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DISCOURSES 



ON 



THE DEPRAVITY OF THE HUMAN FAMILY ; 



PARTICULARLY APPLIED TO 



THIS NATION AND THESE TIMES 



TJNDEK HIS DlYIKi: M ASTER 1 



SACRED HISTORICAL PAINTER, AUTHOR OF "THE MESSIAH, A POEM, 
AND " THE SOUL'S AID," &C. 



" Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith prove your ownselves. — 
Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,excspt ye be repro- 
bates 1" 

[2d Ccr. 13th chap., 5th verse. 



HARRISBURG, Pa. 

PRINTED BY R. S. ELLIOTT & CO. 






BXE0G6 
.L3fcl>5 



To the numerous descendants of Adam* who fell from 
his high and holy estate, even from the Image of God his 
Father, and thus brought the curse upon all posterity ; as in 
him, all are subject to death, so in Christ, whom we preach, 
all may live. Therefore, to all who have immortal souls to 
save these pages are respectfully submitted, 

By the Author. 



CONTENTS. 



DISCOURSE I. 

Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your 
ownselves; Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus 
Christ is in you, except ye he reprobates ? 

[2d Cor., 13th chap., 5th verse. 

DISCOURSE II. 

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, 

[Romans, 10th chap., 17th verse. 

DISCOURSE III. 

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from 
Heaven, saying: I have both glorified it, and will glorify 
it again. 

[John, 12th chap., 28th verse, 

DISCOURSE IV. 

And we are his witnesses of these things ; and so is also the 
Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that they obey 
him. 

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took 
counsel to slay them. 

[Acts, oth chap., 32d & 33d verses 

discourse v. 
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. ' 
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines ; for 
it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace ; 
not with meats, which have not profited them that have 
been occupied therein. 

[Hebrews, ,13th chap., 8th.. & 9th verses. 

discourse vl 
Jf ye love me, keep my commandments ; 
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another 

Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 
Even the spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot receive, 
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye 
know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you, 
[John, 14th chap., 15th, 16th &.1 7th verses. 



iv CONTENTS. 

DISCOURSE vn. 
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one : 
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh 

after God. 
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become 
unprofitable ; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 
[Romans, 3d chap., 10th, 11th & 12th verses. 

DISCOURSE VIII. 

Then, said he, to the multitude that came forth to be bapti- 
sed of him, O generation of vipers! who hath warned you 
to flee from the wrath to come ? 

Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and be- 
gin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to 
our Father ; for 1 say unto you, That God is able of these 
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 

And now, also, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees ; 
every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit, 
is hewn down and cast into the fire. 

[Luke, 3d chap., 7th, 8th & 9th verses. 

DISCOURSE IX. 

Jesus Christ has become to us righteousness, wisdom, sanc- 
lification and redemption. 

[1st Cor, 1st chap., 30th verse. 

DISCOURSE x. 

On the first resurrection and thousand years reign of Christ 
with his saints upon earth. 

[Revelation, 19 chap. 

DISCOURSE XI. 

The Judgment Morning. 

DISCOURSE XII. 

The New Heavens and Earth. 



PREFACE. 

It may not be encroaching too much on the reader's time, 
nor altogether unedifying, by prefacing these Discourses with 
a brief outline or sketch of my life, and the dealings of my 
Heavenly Father with me; by the order of whose Provi- 
dence I was born on the 1 5th of October, in the year of our 
Lord, 1805, in the county of Dauphin, one mile from Hum- 
melstown and about ten from Harrisburg, the Capital of 
Pennsylvania. The farm-house stands about three-fourths 
of a mile Irom the romantic stream called the " Swatara," 
the land bordering on the same, on which is a cave^ its spa- 
cious entrance or expanded mouth within a few yards of the 
flowing stream, which has been visited by many of the 
surrounding country, and travellers from distant climes, as 
one of tho curiosities of nature, but formed probably by 
the Almighty for higher and more useful purposes, to the 
bodies and souls of men, than to be viewed as a mere show, 
as in former times it sheltered nature's children, the untutored 
heathen, from the ruthless wintry blasts and pelting storms, 
and may yet answer a similar purpose. It contains several 
apartments of various magnitude, thirty feet or upwards in 
height ; a purling rill glides along the side of one of them, 
with many other things worthy of note to the admirers of our 
gracious God and his works, such as icicles or fluted columns 
of congealed water, many feet in height, and as hard as rock; 
others somewhat in the shape of a human being, &c. &c. 
A description may be fousd in one of the modern Geogra- 
phies, published some years since. 

My parents belonged to the Lutheran denomination: of 
my mother I know but little, as she was called hence when 
I was but about six years old ; but 1 hope she ended her 
course with joy, and was received to the right hand of the 
Majesty on High, through our beloved Saviour, to sing with 



vi PREFACE. 

the Angels and all the redeemed of the Lord, the song of 
Moses and the Lamb, forever and ever. 

My Father was beloved by his neighbors as an honest and 
upright man ; his removal to another place of residence a few 
years before his death, caused a general grief among his 
nearest neighbors, although of different persuasions, some 
of whom said they would never again have such a true 
friend to reside among them. He was a lover of and adhered 
strictly to the truth ; his word was his bond in all matters of 
importance. 

He was at church whenever there was preaching, nor 
scarcely ever missed; and I am induced to believe, had great 
refreshings from the presence of the Lord at sacramental 
communions, which he attended regularly, and always 
seemed to be renewed in the inner man ; which that divine 
instituted feast of the dying love of our blessed Lord and 
Saviour will so eminently impart, when partook of worthily, 
in a proper state of heart, mind and soul, according to the 
words of our dear Redeemer, and his Apostles. My Father 
loved to read the bible and meditate on the word of God, 
and delighted to converse with his fiiends on the same 
subject ; which 1 frequently listened to for hours with edifi- 
tion. He was, doubtless, divinely supported under great 
personal and family afflictioas, when laboring under partial 
blindness, and during two separate operations, confined in a 
dark room, which resulted, although nearly blind, in tolera- 
ble perfection of sight, under Divine Providence, by some 
skill of the physician as a means. Probably, however, more 
in answer to fervent prayer, as tie was a man of prayer; and 
our blessed Father says, " when thou art in trouble call 
upon me and I will deliver thee and tbou shalt glorify me." 
Yes, he was a man of prayer, that blessed grace of the 
true christian, which wafts the soul aloft to hold sweet com- 
munion with our Holy Father, and brings his blessings down 
upon our heads ; renovates the old man ; changes the heart ; 
casts out the devil and his filthiness, and brings in Christ, with 
the Father and Spirit, according to St. John, 14th chapter 



PREFACE. VII 

and 23d verse; and thus we become the temple of the Holy 
Ghost. I speak of true, upright, spiritual and well-directed 
prayer ;it will do all this. " God is a spirit, and they that 
worship, must worship him in spirit and in truth."" 

1 often heard my deceased father pray aloud, wrestle with 
God on his knees in his chamber ; "when ye pray enter into 
your closets and shut the door, and pray to your Father 
which is in secret, and your Father which seeth in secret 
will reward you openly;" which was also visibly fulfilled. 
At meals he would always lift up his heart to the bountifuS 
giver ol every good and perfect gift. He did not use family 
worship according to method, but instructed his children 
in Godliness; taught the oldest to pray, and made it their 
duty when retiring to rest, to instruct those younger in the 
same exercise. He unfolded to us the plan of salvation by 
repentance to God, and through faith in a crucified Redeem- 
er, and the consequent joys to be shared with the Holy 
Angels in the kingdom of heaven. 

He wouid suffer no sin upon any of his children, that is, to 
live in a habit contrary to the word of God, but would re- 
prove, and his words had to be obeyed ; there was firmness 
of character about him, blended with mildness and affection. 
His children were regularly schooled, according to the cus- 
tom of the place, although he himself had but one month's 
schooling ; yet he could write, cast up accounts, keep his 
own books, and read well; which shows what may be ac- 
complished by application, in lieu of idling away the time in 
dissipation and wickedness, which an all-wise and gracious 
God measures out for higher and nobler purposes. In due 
time his children were disciplined in Godliness, according to 
the rules of the church to which he belonged, instructed in 
her catechism and according to scripture, to deny the world, 
the flesh, and the devil ; and live godly, sober, righteous and 
holy lives; and to believe in Jesus the only Saviour and Me- 
diator, and .Name given whereby sinners can become recon^ 
ciled to God, and finally live with him in all joy, glory, felici- 
ty, and happiness, forever and ever. 



viii . PREFACE. 

I have been thus lengthy in memorialising on the character 
of my father, for a good and virtuous man's life will bear 
examining, and is worthy of record, for the imitation of his 
fellow creatures sojourning in this vale of tears. If his 
children are not saved through Christ, the blame will not at- 
tach to him, for he was certainly an enemy to the devil and 
all his works, and dared to make his sentiments known for 
the benefit of his family, and others also. He might have 
had faults, but they were few, not living in any confirmed 
sin, to my knowledge. And above all, 1 am persuaded in 
my mind that he triumphed in the last scene, through re- 
deeming love : 1 was not present when his spirit took flight, 
but had visited him at intervals during his combat with the 
enemy of the souls of men, and therefore have every reason 
to believe that he attained the victory ; that he even triumph- 
ed through Jesus Christ our Lord ; for I heard him say that 
our Heavenly Father permitted Satan to throw his fiery 
darts at him, but that his hope was good and his confidence 
sure ; he was much refreshed during his trial, by having the 
scripture promises and similar hymns read to him, and which 
aided also in repelling the devil's artillery levelled against 
him. To the attending physicians he said, that he was not 
afraid to die, for he had hope of a better life beyond the grave; 
probably meditating on the words of our blessed Saviour, "I 
am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth on me 
though he were dead yet shall he live ; and he that liveth and 
believeth in me shall never die." The evening before the 
day his soul took its departure, he told my brother to open 
the shutters that he might behold the glory of the Sun for the 
last time, as though he had a presentiment that his departure 
was near — and was probably comparing his glory with the 
glory of the Greater Sun of Righteousness, and the lustre 
and effulgence of the Deity. The next day about one 
o'clock his soul took its departure to another and a better 
world, to sing with the holy hosts on high praises and Halle- 
lujahs to our God and Saviour, through the countless ages of 
eternity. 



PREFACE. IX 

1 come now to say more about myself, And why should I 
write about myself, who am but dust and ashes, but to make 
known to dying sinners the love of a crucified Redeemer ; 
to set myself forth as a living witness of the divine mercy; to 
testify that there is plenteous salvation through faith in Jesus, 
and also to induce others to close in with the gracious over- 
tures of mercy ere it be forever too late; ere their earthly 
course is ended, and they find themselves in the place assign- 
ed to all apostate spirits, and those that die out of Christ ? 
that die under the law ; that die in their sins. 

1 was the seventh child of my parents according to the 
order of Providence, which some would consider in itself as 
an omen of good ; but whether it is worthy of any faith, I 
very much doubt, for with God all things are possible. 1 
sometimes of late, have had it impressed on my mind, that as 
Jeremiah, the good Lord had separate j me from my mother's 
womb for useful purposes under Him, to my fellow beings ; 
to suffer for them in His name and to glorify Him. 

iMy disposition from childhood was sedate and retiring, and 
somewhat romantic ; imbibed probably from the wild scenery 
along the before-mentioned stream, on the banks of which 1 
would often perambulate alone, and with others, and in ca- 
noes on the water, one of which, by foolishness, was upset 
at one time and the whole party, consisting of four, were 
plunged into the water, from which, after struggling awhile* 
the good Lord delivered us all, after having been repeatedly 
called upon, " God 1" " God I" whenever my head was 
above water ; which circumstance I find thus in a verse of a 
brief poem of my life : 

" Thy love to me with shepherd's care> 
In childhood iu thine arms did'st bare, 
And smile upon this humble frame ; 
As years advanced, thou still the same, 
A God of Love and ever nigh, 
To hear my moan and louder cry ; 
" God ! O God ! !" thou wast near to save, 
And rescue me from a wat'ry grave." 

Thus in mercy I was spared; had it been otherwise,! 



x PREFACE. 

might not have fared as well as 1 am now certain of doing 
when the Lord pleases to call me from this earthly stage : 
as 1 had no assurance of acceptance through the "beloved," 
and consequently, would have perished body and soul. O, 
the need of being at all times prepared, from even the cradle 
to the grave, for an exit out of this world! May I ever be 
thankful to my Holy Father for this deliverance, with all 
previous, and those since; for His encompassing me with His 
everlasting arms, both by sea and by land ; but above all, 
for salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

My education was that of a common country school ; 
reading, writing and arithmetic, all of which 1 could man- 
age with considerable ease ; particularly the latter, in which 
1 was considered an adept; having mastered two books by 
different authors, together with Boneycasile's mensuration, 
surveying and guaging. My genius developed itself in this 
way, and also in drawing with pencil and pen and ink, 
figures of various kinds ; the gift of painting, which I have 
since brought to great perfection, was therefore, inherent 
from childhood, and I may say I was born a painter, poet, 
and man of genius. Endowed by nature, or more properly 
intrusted by my Heavenly Father, with these brightest of 
talents, if wisely employed — therefore, I am also more re- 
sponsible than many others, for "to whom much is given, from 
him shall be much required ;" as per the ten talents to one, 
five to another, and one to a third, and their reward by the 
Lord accordingly. No one is, therefore, excusable for bury- 
ing His precious gift, much less for misemploying it — the 
soul constitutes the man, yet every one need not be a paint- 
er or a poet to be a man, to be of elevated mind and refined 
soul, but by having delight in the exalted things from above 
and not in those from Satan, contrary to holiness, which he 
is required to shun and abhor. 

As i hinted at already, at about the age of fifteen 1 attended 
the village church with many others, to be catechised ; during 
this period my mind was more serious, more abstracted from 



PREFACE. * xi 

things below, more wrought upon and exercised in those of 
a boundless eternity ; of the Divinity ; of Heaven's awful 
holiness. I felt my heart elevated in love to the Saviour, who 
had undergone so much in lave to mankind — to me, yes to me, 
one of the least ; yet notwithstanding, I felt the efficacy of his 
love in the salvation of my soul, and had much peace, joy 
and happiness in believing, comfort in prayer and sweet- 
ness in meditation ; but nothing to what I now experience. 
With delight and facility I could commit to memory the 
portion from time to time assigned me, which caused bur 
minister to have a particular regard for me, and induced 
him to speak frequently to my father and others of my 
abilities, and the delight 1 took in the exalted things of 
Heaven ; which created a desire in one of my sisters that 1 
should study for the ministry — at whose knees 1 was often, 
in previous years, enraptured at the glowing picture she 
would draw of the joy and delight of Heaven, of Paradise, 
of the Holy Angels and of the Saints, the redeemed of the 
Lord ; and while expatiating on the benevolence of our 
blessed Saviour, the love which he bore toward us, which 
constrained him to sojourn here below, which caused his 
passion in Gethsemane and his death on Mount Calvary, of 
his resurrection, appearance to his disciples, ascension and 
second coming in transcendent glory with all the holy hosts 
from on high, and that he would then raise our bodies and 
glorify them, like unto the Angels, to live with and enjoy 
Him in the New Heavens and Earth forever and ever; in 
short, she would expound the meaning of the JNew Testament 
to me, and some times show me engravings of our blessed Sa- 
viour and of Holy Angels, which aided to elevate my soul 
and cause it to soar on high on Angels 1 wings ; be charmed 
and enraptured with the blessedness of Heaven ; the holi- 
ness and divine glory of our God and Father. May all 
young ladies do likewise, who have younger sisters and 
brothers ; "as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." Verily, it 
is the duty of all parents to instruct and have their children 



XII PREFACE. 

instructed in godliness ; in that which pertains to their eter- 
nal welfare, everlasting life and happiness. But then some- 
times they are called out of this world of trouble, as my 
mother, when some of their children are yet in tender years, 
the very time to receive holy and lasting impressions : then 
the duty devolves more directly upon the older members of 
the family ; and O how lovely ! how beautiful and Angelic!! 
virtue and holiness combined in the female character. At 
these seasons, at times when alone and looking over the 
fields, I could almost see with my natural eyes, the Saviour 
with His disciples passing along, my faith being so vivid, 
which caused my heart to leap within, and be filled with 
such heavenly emotions impossible to describe. The min- 
ister looked about to find one to pray in public on the day 
of confirmation, and selected me as the most suitable ; the 
prayer, however, was not extempore, but committed to 
memory out of a book — in which duty I succeeded pretty 
well. I was confirmed with the others ; denied the world, 
the devil, the lusts of the flesh ; took the sacrament, and thus 
became a member of the Lutheran church ; 1 had true com- 
fort and sweet peact through Christ in God, but not such en- 
raptured joy and rejoicing as I have experienced since, 
within late years ; and probably not the perfect love which 
casts out all fear of death and judgment ; " there is therefore 
now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.'" I 
had now for some time much serenity of soul and peace of 
conscience, but by degrees it wore off and 1 became more 
worldly ; the passions within became more turbulent and 
ungovernable, so that by the time of the next sacrament I 
absented myself, under the fear of not being able to discern 
the Lord's body, and thus drink damnation to myself; and so 
it was the time following. 1 did not live or indulge in any gross 
sin, but yet 1 would not deny myself to the extent 1 promis- 
ed at confimation, and therefore knew myself unworthy. 

The time now arrived that I was to enter on a trade, and 
as the ministry, as 1 thought, required too much self-denial, ; 
for T had a high and an exalted opinion of the ambassadors 



PREFACE. xin 

of Christ — those that are true shepherds ; so much so that 
1 shrunk whenever they broached the subject, on account of 
the loftiness and responsibility of the office ; nevertheless, 
to free my mind, 1 consulted the minister, who would not 
advise me either way, to undertake it or not ; but said it was 
a high and desirable calling, and I should do according to 
the dictates of my conscience ; pray to and obey the will of 
the Lord. 1 left him and went home, deeply exercised on 
the subject, revolving and re-revolving the matter in my 
mind, but could not at any time come to the conclusion that 
1 could become qualified to discharge the duties of a faithful 
preacher ; no doubt, lacking faith in Him who is the head of 
the Church, with whom all things are possible, and who 
could have been a mouth to me as he was to Moses. I 
have mentioned already that I was of a sedate and retired 
disposition, and therefore, as may be expected, of few words, 
or one who tells things briefly and not fond of a multitude of 
words without meaning ; this might have been in my favor, 
as appropriate to a minister ; as an approach even to Christ 
himself; but the devil made it a great stumbling-block, to- 
gether with other things of more or less consequence ; and 
I remained undecided whether the blessed Lord had really 
called me or not. and began to think of some other occupa- 
tion, consulted with some of my relations, and concluded to 
study the art of printing. I went myself to Harrisburg and 
made an engagement with Mr. Wyeth, who agreed to take 
me on trial for a few months to see whether I liked the 
business, &c; if so, I was to serve to the age of twenty-one. 
I, therefore, in the beginning of the winter of 1 822-3, began 
my career with him, and after a short time was articled to 
stay until I was of age. The first day it was late when I got 
there, but I learned the cases and composed nearly half a 
column of matter, long primer, for the paper ; thus 1 pro- 
gressed rapidly in the profession — and he used to say I was 
a very good boy, and when my father wanted to purchase 
a bible for me he gave me one as a present— he h?.d a large 
book-store in connection with the printing establishment.— * 



xiv PREFACE. 

Here was a young man who had but about a year to serve, 
belonging to the Presbyterian church ; he attended lo the 
reading of his bible, and prayed thrice or oftener daily, with 
other spiritual exercises, such as reading the bible, medita- 
tions and singing, &c; went to church regularly twice or 
thrice on Sundays, and occasionally at night during the 
week. His name was Richard Cole ; by his example and 
conversation I was much edified and benefited, and look 
likewise to prayer thrice a day on the loft, where he used to 
retire to. I read the bible with more attention and profit 
than I had for some time before; 1 also attended church and 
prayer meetings regularly, and made more progress in the 
divine life. I now again took the sacrament once or twice, 
and had some refreshings from the presence of the Lord ; 
for a while this new mode of life continued, but it gradually 
wore off again, and from my having been a strict observer 
of the Sabbath, I became a Sabbath-breaker ; and for money 
would work all Sunday until night on the bills of the Senate, 
which Mr. Wyeth had engaged to print. O, that the Legis- 
lature would put a stop to having so much of their printing 
executed on the hallowed day of the Lord ! They must cer- 
tainly be aware that a great amount of work is done, and 
therefore, many hands employed on the Sabbath, who 
might, and surely ought to be more usefully engaged, even 
in the salvation of their immortal souls, and worshipping 
and honoring the Lord of the Sabbath. " They that honor 
me 1 will honor, but they that despise me shall be lightly 
esteemed," says the Lord of Hosts. There was no excuse 
for me, as I had my free will ; only being enticed, I pre- 
sume, by the devil, and not sufficiently confirmed and watch- 
ful unto Godliness, 1 consented for filthy lucre's sake, but to 
my shame and sorrow whenever I think of it, as my bad 
example induced Mr. Cole also to take up his composing 
stick and desecrate the sanctified day of rest. O, how 
watchful young christians ought to be, lest the adversary 
gains some advantage over them, and although they may 



PREFACE. XV 

repent and be forgiven afterwards, yet will cause them, at 
times, sorrowful moments, hours and days, all their lives. 

The summer following the beginning of my apprentice™ 
ship, the holy JLord laid his hand upon me and brought me 
to the gates of death ; " whom the Lord loveth, he chasten- 
eth." I was taken by a fever and lay about four weeks ; 
it set in with violence at the start, but not without a pros- 
pect of success to the attending physician, but towards the 
four weeks he thought it might cause me to sink under it and 
go the way of all flesh. All this while I was in a terrible state 
of mind ; there was no peace for my poor miserable soul ; 
Heaven seemed to be as brass, at least I could not now real- 
ize its joys and happiness through a crucified Saviour, which 
surpass everything here below, and consequently I was not 
willing to launch forth; my soul clave to the earth and I want- 
ed to live and enjoy the life of this world, and was, therefore, 
in a dreadful way. G t to be always prepared for the dissolu- 
tion of the body, to make a happy exit and ascend triumphant- 
ly to the realms of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, I 
made many a good resolution and vowed to live a holier life 
should it please the good Lord in mercy to spare me, and 
others also felt concerned, and held [ prayer meetings in the 
house, and sent for the minister of the church to which I be- 
longed ; he kindly attended several times and prayed for me. 
The blessed Lord was pleased to raise me up agaia at about 
the end of four weeks, so that I could accompany my father 
home 3 miles in a gig ; where 1 continued in a weak state, just 
able to walk about the house, for nearly six weeks longer, 
when 1 felt sufficiently recovered, blessed be God, to enter on 
my engagement again. The scene is also described in the 
poem alluded to, thus : 

" And when this frame pressed with sickness, 

Sore disease and deep distress ; 

The groan of anguish thou did'st hear, 

And lend'st thyself a willing ear; 

To defeat the grave of its prey, 

Did'st thy Almighty power display , 

To health again for to restore, 

That I might know thee more and more." 



XVI PREFACE. 

I now enjoyed pretty good health as long as I stayed with 
Mr. Wyeth, which was until within six months of the end of 
my contract. As he had bat little work to do that summer 
and hands sufficient, I compromised and paid him for the 
unexpired term. A few weeks after I became a partner 
in one of the first Jackson papers in the State, printed at 
Reading, where 1 was concerned about six months, then 
sold my interest, and visited Philadelphia and New York, 
where I worked some weeks ; after which 1 returned to Har- 
risburg, where, and at Lancaster, York and Liverpool, and 
in divers visits to the different cities, my time was consumed 
until I left for Europe in 1833. The greatest part of the 
time 1 passed at Harrisburg, where 1 had much success in 
business. Previous to this 1 studied medicine for about six 
months at Liverpool, with an eminent physician, who of- 
ten said that L wouid make a good physician; but the 
practical part was not congenial to my feelings, and there- 
fore I left him with a good prospect of doing well in the bro- 
kerage business, wherein 1 also had considerable success, 
and accumulated a small fortune in a few years. My sole 
object now was to make money— get wealthy — until 1 began 
to study the divine art of painting, in the spring of 1830. The 
way this precious gift or blossom was brought to bud and 
expand, is this : two traveling painters of a little home repu- 
tation, from Marietta, came to town and took up their lodg- 
ings at the house where I boarded. Now 1 frequently be- 
fore had a hankering to know how the effect was produced — 
a desire to see a portrait taken ; I was therefore, persuaded to 
have mine taken, and to encourage them and get them into 
business; the delineations were made, but the finish did not 
come up to nature ; 1 however, paid him, thinking he might 
improve in time. In the meantime his partner arrived, who 
also found it faulty, and after a week or so persuaded me to 
let him tiy his hand, to which 1 also consented; he succeeded 
somewhat better. 1 had been exercising in my office with a 
Jead pencil, as 1 had done on many former occasions. Well? 



PREFACE. xvii 

seeing him one day copying from an engraving a landscape, 
1 looked on awhile, then intimated that I thought I could 
imitate it ; upon which some conversation followed in rela* 
tion to drawing, &c. He requested me to show him one of 
my pencil sketches. I did so ; it was a very correct copy of a 
print of Gen. Jackson. As soon as he saw it, he said I 
would make a painter, and advised me to study the art. 1 
agreed with him for fifty dollars, to give me some insight 
in the mixing and use of colors, which he did as per his abil- 
ities, as he was merely medium in the profession. During 
the two weeks he remained from this time, I was chiefly in 
his room, and copied a few portraits that he had painted from 
nature, and also one from nature, a lady, which was a toler- 
able likeness. I now felt enraptured with this pleasing 
study, and purchased very expensive works treating on this 
accomplished art, for one of which, in two vols. 1 paid $28; 
another one vol. $ 11,50; another one vol. $6,50, &c. &c, 
and in the purchase of engravings I spent a considerable sum, 
being determined to excel in this exalted profession ; partic- 
ularly when the painter, Raphael-like, chooses the most 
sublime subjects, such as abound in the Old and New Tes- 
taments. 1 therefore visited Philadelphia, New York, Bal- 
timore and Washington at different times, to examine the 
best pictures from the Italian Masters to be seen in this coun- 
try ; and also those of West, and other modern artists. — 
Thus I imbibed new views and principles, and my genius 
expanded more and more. 1 was now better able to proceed 
with the vast, design of Christ Preaching and Healing Dis- 
eases; which ] began the fall following ] first used paint, and 
was my fifteenth production ; the preceding ones being only 
single portraits, small things. I made a tolerable finish ol it 
and had it exhibited in Philadelphia the succeeding summer; 
it was favorably noticed in some of the papers, as " forcibly 
illustrating the passages from which it was designed ; that 
many of the heads were finely executed, and that it indicated 

2 



xviii PREFACE. 

an indubitable and high order of genius," &c. This pro- 
duction was burned in the Lutheran Church of Harrisburg, 
in October, 1338, when that building was consumed. 1 am 
sorry for it ; it was my first production in the historic de- 
partment, and had caused me a great deal of meditation and 
study, but not in vain; although the painting is no more, it 
caused my soul to be refreshed, to be nearer Christ than be- 
fore, while engaged on it ; and it afforded me some comfort 
to know that others who called to see it were likewise more 
or less affected, particularly an old lady, who said, while tears 
trickled down her cheeks, that from all the sermons she ever 
heard, she was not made so sensible, or impressed so forcibly 
with the divine goodness of our blessed Redeemer, and that 
she often read and heard of his meritorious acts of mercy, 
but now she saw them. She was really deeply affected, 
and I hope that it was as seed sown upon good ground and 
brought forth perfect love to our " Beloved^ whose serene, 
divine, and heavenly appearance she so much admired: with 
his acts of benevolence to the blind, the lame, the deaf, the 
dumb, and to the possessed of devils, in restoring thenri to 
their right mind. It was a complex and great achievement, 
not, however, handled and finished as I could now, had I 
the same design under way. L executed a small one from 
recollection of the same subject, with some variations for the 
better ; less in figures, however, by fifteen or twenty. On 
the large one were upwards of a hundred, on this not a hun- 
dred. After this I designed another at Harrisburg, subject 
" the head of John the Baptist," containing six or seven 
figures, size of life, length below the knees, besides the head 
of John, which one of the executioners is handing in a 
charger to the damsel. 1 afterwards finished it in London, 
and it was exhibited in the Royal exhibition, Pall Mall. 
The next design was the battle of New Orleans, an enor- 
mous subject, which 1 arranged different from any other I 
ever saw; the canvass is 14 by 22 feet; figures the size of 
life ; the painting T could finish so as to be worth consider- 



PREFACE. xix 

able, but my time is of more value in this degenerate age, 
when sinners are indulging in the most abominable vices, 
and perishing all around. As that picture would show forth 
the deeds of men, and consequently in these times they 
would receive praise of men beyond their due, as the God of 
battles has given the victory, and caused this as yet to re- 
main a separate nation ; therefore to Him belongs all the 
glory. My next work was St. Peter's release by an Angel, 
while sleeping between two guards; figures size of life; de- 
signed in Philadelphia; which I also took along to London. 
Another, Ezra the scribe, reading the law of Moses to the 
children of Israel, in Jerusalem, containing a number of fig- 
ures size of life, but not well executed ; there is, however, 
something tolerable in the buildings and perspective — with 
others of minor import; all previous to going to Europe. 

During these five or six years the giacious Lord used his 
rod frequently upon, me, in love it was, I know, thanks to his 
Holy name. One Sabbath morning I was dressed in an en- 
tire new suit, with new boots ; it was in my head to go some 
twelve miles down the country, which you all know was 
contrary to the fourth commandment ; and to my shame I 
was not obedient according to the vows I had made while 
sick, as stated already. " When thou vovvest unto the Lord, 
pay thy vows, for the Lord has no pleasure in fools." I hired 
a horse hitched in a sulkey, got into it, and before I was prop- 
erly seated the horse ran at a terrible rate down the street, 
and in turning the corner of the square, the sulkey upset and 
threw me against the curb stone ; the horse continued run- 
ning with the vehicle upside-down. I got up and would 
have been unhurt, had it not been that the heel or offset of 
my boot caught someway or other, which 1 never could com- 
prehend, and twisted my knee, not quite out of joint, but 
disarranged it so as to cause me to be confined to bed for 
two weeks, and afterwards to go on a crutch for a few weeks 
longer. I felt the effects of it for some months. Thus the 
devil stung my heel,, as Sabbath-breaking and all wickedness> 



xx PREFACE. 

is from him ; but through God 1 am bruising his head now. 
In the fall of 1830, while engaged on the large painting of 
" Christ Healing Diseases," J was taken by the small pox, 
and confined to bed, where I lay very sick for some weeks ; 
during which time I had mueh joy meditating on the love of 
Christ, which the above subject revived to my mind. I 
thought I once saw the blessed Saviour standing at the head 
of the bed, and also that I would die in peace ; but it pleased 
the blessed physician and head of the church to restore me 
to health ; having still greater work under his divine Provi- 
dence for me to do. For change of air i went to Lancaster 
and Columbia; between these places the linch pin came 
out, one of the wheels flew off, and the stage went down; 
in aiding to raise it up to replace the wheel, being weak, I 
sprained or raiher prolongated the muscles of my right shoul- 
der, which I deemed too trifling to notice at the time ; but 
in returning from Columbia to Lancaster the same night, the 
axle-tree broke down, and we had to take to a waggon, the 
jolting of which was terrible, and reclining on the elbow of 
my right arm, not aware of the injury I had received before, 
by the time we arrived at Lancaster, was very bad, so 
that the bone stood nearly straight, out. I then returned 
to Harrisburg and had to bandage all winter, and was pre- 
vented from studying my picture. 

As 1 had it in contemplation for some years, the time at 
last arrived for my departure to Europe. 1 therefore left 
Philadelphia the latter part of July, 1833, for New York, 
where I embarked on the 1st of August for Liverpool; trust- 
ing that my Heavenly Father, who had until then supported 
and delivered me, would still be with me, and by the work- 
ings of his Providence, would enable me to land safely at the 
latter place; notwithstanding the insinuation of my oldest 
brother, sometime previous, " that 1 would never get there ;" 
to whom I replied, " that if it was God's will 1 should. " 1 
merely relate this to show that although not unblameable 
and holy enough, 1 still had some christian principle and 



PREFACE. XXI 

faith in my God and Saviour; "cast all your care upon the 
Lord for he careth for you;" thus, as before, He was with 
me still. " If 1 take the wings of the morning and fly to the 
uttermost parts of the sea, Thou art there, thy rod and thy 
staff they comfort me." At times we were visited by gales 
of wind, when the sea would roar, lash the vessel's side, leap 
on board, and together with the wind would cause the ship 
to groan, masts creak, spars fly, and the sails rend and flap 
in the storm, and cause confusion and consternation among 
the passengers and crew. At such times I would retire, cast 
myself upon my knees before the throne of Him whom 
the winds and the waves obey, and at whose words, " Peace, 
be still,' 1 there follows a great calm. 1 implored my Fath- 
er's protection, and if he permitted my body to descend into 
the deep, to cause my soul to ascend through Jesus to his 
own right hand ; and 1 felt his presence near, and great com>- 
fort, joy and peace, and a great calm within my soul, not- 
withstanding the raging of the elements without. My hopes 
and expectations were realized, after the exercise of much 
patience, during a voyage of 42 days, by stepping, through 
the goodness of God, on Brittania's luxuriant shore. 1 spent 
a few days at Liverpool, then took stage for London, through 
Birmingham and the most fertile part of the country. In 
London, that great metropolis; I located myself in the Wes- 
tern part, where the streets are broad, cleanliness observed , 
and where there are parks and promenades, conducing to the 
health of the inhabitants. Here 1 pursued the study of my 
profession and succeeded very well, as I have stated al- 
ready. 1 had access to some of the best collections of paint- 
ings belonging to this great nation, and thereby improved 
myself, and made strides in this divine art towards perfec- 
tion accordingly. Yet one thing I regret exceedingly when- 
ever I think thereon, that is, of not having lived near enough 
to God, as 1 should have done for his goodness to me; and as 
1 might have done, through a crucified Redeemer, and privi- 
leged to do. Oh ! the abuse men make of this exalted 



xxn PREFACE. 

privilege, and therefore remain strangers to all the blessings 
and sweets thereof. I was not prayerful enough, although I 
prayed night and morning ; neither watchful enough to keep 
out of my heart, and conquer at all times the enemy of my 
soul, through the Captain of our Salvation, which is the duty 
enjoined upon every christian. My affections were there- 
fore, unhallowed and misplaced. I did not love God with 
all my heart, and by consequence my eye was not single to 
his glory. I was as a stray ?heep wandering from the fold 
of Jesus, whose compassionate bowels yearned for my return; 
and somehow or other 1 became deprived of my personal 
liberty, if not by the order, by the permission of my Heavenly 
Father, " whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth 
every one that he receiveth ;" and who graciously overruled 
all for my benefit and his glory. As 1 had committed no 
crime against the law of the land, 1 did not suffer as an evil 
doer, but innocently. I therefore warn all to clear their skirts, 
ere it be too late, who made themselves guilty of my blood, 
either directly or indirectly, aiding and abetting in the 
dark, mysterious, and hellish plot, which 1 never could com- 
prehend, but which shall be made manifest on the Judgment 
day, when every work shall be rewarded by the Eternal 
Judge, my Father. 1 may, and do forgive them, but without 
repentance my Father will not forgive them. " It needs be 
that offences come, but woe to him from whom they do come; 
it were. bette r that he had a millstone about his neck and were 
cast into the depths of the sea ;" and this also applies to 
those who now persecute me. Let ail, therefore, speedily 
repent lest they find themselves in a place of torment surpas- 
sing all that men and devils ever invented, or can possibly 
invent; even in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, 
where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of 
teeth forever. 

With the inspired writer, I thank my God that I ever 
have been afflicted; it learned me to know the foolishness of 
loving the world and the vain things thereof, and to be rooted 



PREFACE. xxiri 

and grounded through love in the tree of life ; to deny the 
devil and all his filthiness, and love Gbd with all the heart. 
This perfect blessing of salvation 1 experienced shortly after 
I was imprisoned, and the great God supported me miracu- 
lously during my confinement, and gave me, through the 
instrumentality of the Holy Spirit, the indubitable assurance 
of being through Christ born again, adopted a son and an 
heir of Glory, joint heir with the blessed Jesus ; and of 
having my sins washed away by his precious blood, which 
cleanses from all sins, and my name written in the Lamb's 
book of life, enabled to cry Abba, Abba, Father ; which 
caused my heart to leap for joy, and 1 was all life, light, 
love, joy, peace and happiness in Jehovah, my God and 
Saviour. And 1 also trust that my faith, confidence and 
patience under my sufferings, and perfect love to Him who 
is essentially love ; which casteth Out all fear, may have 
worked much good to my neighbors; my enemies and per- 
secutors ; it would afford me much joy were I aware that 
it was so; I shall know, however, for the day of the Lord 
will reveal it. 1 was, at times, greatly harrassed by the 
devil, and deprived of bodily comfort by his agents, his 
children ; but thanks be to God, his word was riot bound, 
but had free course to rejoice my heart and glorify him ; to 
impart that "peace which passeth all understanding, which 
the world cannot give or take away, and which shall endure 
and increase evermore, eternal in the heavens ;" thus 1 was 
happy in God, although I had tribulation in the world.— 
" These things 1 have spoken unto you, that in me," saith 
the blessed Christ, " ye might have peace. In the world ye 
shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have over- 
come the world." At times, thank the Lord, I had more 
kindness shown me, when I would read and write hymns, of 
which € have upwards of 200 yet unpublished. 1 also com* 
posed the latter part of the poem of the "Messiah" that is, 
from the 77th verse, " Lo ! the Lord, the Lord of Glory," &c. 



XXIV PREFACE. 

In this way it wrought for my good, my Father's glory, and 
if not for the welfare of men's souls, it will be their own 
fault — be their blood upon them ; be my hands clean. 

In all these complex trials the blessed Lord was with me. 
1 grew in the divine and holy life ; Christ dwelled in me the 
hope of glory, and I lived and moved in him ; in short, I was 
emphatically the temple of the mystic Trinity — Father, Son 
and Holy Spirit, according to St. John, 14th chapter. 

Two years were fully passed in confinement, as were 
also with Joseph and St. Paul — my blessed Father arose in 
his majesty to confound all hell and darkness ; the devil and 
all his legions; spiritual and in the flesh, and with his Om- 
nipotent Arm achieved my deliverance, and I came forth 
from the furnace as gold seven times refined. Glory be to 
his great name, who is perfect in glory and holiness, and 
saith, " when thou coiweth into trouble, call upon me and I 
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me, 11 which I know 
I have done, am doing, and desire to do to the end, so that, 
through my blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, I may also reign 
with Him in all joy, glory, happiness, felicity and bliss, for 
ever and ever. 

Incomprehensible Deity, thou art so highly exalted above 
puny men, thy throne in the heavens is so far above the 
earth, thy footstool, that thy ways are altogether past 
finding out ; but this we know, that thy promises are all yea 
and amen to the believer in Jesus. O enable me ever to 
adore thy long suffering mercy to me, and to praise and bless 
thy ever blessed and holy name in time, and at thy right 
hand in eternity, through Jesus Christ my beloved Lord and 
Saviour. Amen. 

Yes, the Lord's ways are above our ways, and his thoughts 
far, far above our thoughts; therefore, as respects my two 
years confinement, it will be fully manifest at his second 
coming ; which in his own words, "will be speedily." Even 
so come, Lord Jesus. Amen. 



PREFACE. xxv 

The object of my being thus lengthy is to edify my read- 
ers, to give some idea of the dealing of my Father with his 
annointed ; to convince those, particularly, who deny his 
intercession and guardian care and government of the uni- 
verse ; and that if any of my readers should ever meet with 
similar trials not to despair, but call upon the same Lord, 
who is Almighty to save and deliver to the uttermost. 

Wonderfully and divinely supported by my heavenly Fath- 
er, I was enabled to embark from London, in March, 1836, 
who upheld me by his Arm of Righteousness and Almighty 
power, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. — 
Nothing very particular occurred during the voyage. We 
had some gales and much head wind, even for weeks ; one 
morning, after some weeks of this untoward weather, and 
having been out about seven weeks already, as 1 came on 
deck one of the passengers entered into conversation with 
me, during which he informed me that the provision was be- 
coming scarce on board, and if the wind should continue 
ahead, he knew not what might be the consequence. I re- 
flected a moment, then descended to my berth, to implore 
Him with whom are the issues of life and death, and who 
holds the reins of the winds in his fist, and can change them 
in the twinkling of an eye, and so he did ; for I was but a 
few minutes on my knees praying for the same, when I heard 
them tacking about and putting the ship in nearly a direct 
course for our harbor ; when I came on deck the wind was 
nearly aft, and the same breeze drove us into New York 
nearly two weeks after. My Father is still a prayer hear- 
ing and answering God, if approached in uprightness; with 
full purpose of heart to forsake evil and follow after that 
which is good ; know ye this ye double-minded who desire to 
serve two masters, your prayer is an abomination, and there- 
fore, not answered, and ye remain unconverted and in your 
sins. Above all, God delights to hear his saints pray and to 
answer their prayers, for his honor dwelleth with them, and 



XXVI PREFACE. 

he is glorified in them; therefore let us pray without ceasing: 
in everything give thanks; bless his name and sing his praise; 
Hallelujah, praise the Lord. 

1 expected that as soon as I landed on the American shore 
I should be free from persecution; but alas! I found it far 
otherwise, the powers of darkness pervading all classes, and 
I soon found that the land was mourning for the abomination 
thereof; and alas ! thought I, for my country; the just judg- 
ments of the Most High are pressing thee sore. In travel- 
ing along 1 discovered that the fields were almost barren as 
the road; my heart was heavy, mourned within me, and groan- 
ed with the earth. I thought of Noah's time, and of Sodom 
and Gomorrah, and other mighty nations, which prosperity, 
fulness of bread, and success in arms, had inflated so that 
they became lifted up and went a whoring after their own in- 
ventions, neither fearing nor acknowledging the sovereignty of 
Jehovah, nor seeking to honor him, but rather by their filthy 
actions to dishonor him, and that continually; at last God to 
humble them brought them even low as hell, by an utter ex- 
termination, to wit: the plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. 

When abroad I would often think if 1 once got back to my 
brother, I would also find a brother in spirit and in truth and 
in the spirit of Christ. But after landing I began to doubt of 
it, and when I got there I found him contrary; his hand be- 
ing -against me; not having my Lord and Master, Christ's 
mark on his forehead, but the adversary's, consequently there 
was a great gulph between us, and which I am sorry to think 
remains unto this day; and so it is with all my relations and 
acquaintances, and strangers among whom I have sojourned 
since; but yet notwithstanding the Lord may have some, be- 
side myself, whose hands are free from the blood of all men, 
either by persecution or otherwise, and who abstain from this 
levelling abomination and wickedness, upon which I have 
enlarged in the following discourses. 

Having lived since my return in May, 1836, within four or 



PREFACE. xxvn 

five miles of this place, where I pursued my studies as histori- 
cal painter, and occasionally composing hymns, and where 1 
wrote the first part o( my poem, the "Messiah ," up to verse 
77. Here I met with many trials and buffeiings from Satan, 
and persecutions from his children, but my God and Sa- 
viour, my brother Jesus was constantly with me, and through 
him I triumphed over them all, and know that I shall endure 
unto the end and inherit ah 1 things, and with the Holy An- 
gels and the redeemed from the earth, enjoy the Eternal 
Father everlastingly. 

Last March I came to this place, (Chambersburg,) and 
have met with considerable success, which enabled me to 
publish during the summer the " Messiah" for the welfare 
of my fellow beings, particularly their immortal soul's salva- 
tion ; which work has been welcomed and highly extolled, 
by men of judgment, for which 1 feel thankful, as it may 
draw the public to spend a trifle to possess it, and the amount 
of good it may be the means, under God, of doing, will be 
made manifest some future day ; in the meantime Glory be 
to Jesus the King of Glory. The subject, the "Messiah;" is 
the most elevated and sublime that could be sung, and in my 
humble opinion, the language is high, holy, and inspired ; 
truly evangelical, and in keeping; harmonizing in every res- 
pect to it. I have said before I published, and am still of the 
same opinion, that parts of it have never to my knowledge, 
been surpassed, if equalled ; but glory to whom glory belongs, 
and may his blessing descend upon the readers thereof for 
the salvation of their souls. 

The painting of our blessed Saviour's appearance to his 
disciples while they were praying in an upper room, the doors 
being shut too, when and where he convinced unbelieving 
Thomas; St. John's gospel 20th chapter. It is a heaven- 
born production; a superhuman serenity pervades the whole, 
likGthe calm of the ocean after a breeze, its tiny waves skip- 
ping and rejoicing; thus the terror of the disciples has subsid- 
ed, and placidntss taken its place with joy and rejoicing in. 



xxvin PREFACE. 

the heart of every one. The Saviour is an admirable figure, 
full six feet high, and well proportioned; his countenance is 
sweet, divinely benign, and persuasive ; his eyes are cast up- 
on St. Thomas, who is kneeling before him, recovering from 
his weakness and confusion, and exclaiming " My Lord and 
my God." The light which emanates from the Saviour's 
countenance is well managed, partly shading some of the 
hindermost figures. The draperies are ample and flowing: 
every partis in keeping and aids to combine the subject and 
form a sweet and pleasing effect, such as to refresh and edi- 
fy the soul, and calm a ruffled and angry temper by behold- 
ing !t. 

This subject was selected during the few last months of 
my confinement, and began on a convass of about 1 4 by 11 
inches, which I brought from London here, and have now 
enlarged it to the size of life on a suitable canvass, and more 
to my satisfaction, and 1 trust to the benefit of mankind. It 
must be seen in a proper room and light to be fully apprecia- 
ted. Another began since; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and 
Mary the mother of James, with other women, seeking the 
Saviour at the sepulchre. They went in and found him not, 
and after coming out two Angels stood by them, informing 
them that he had risen, &c. St. Luke, 24th chapter. Fig- 
ures, seven women and two Angels, rather above the size of 
life; it remains unfinished as yet. Another is a sweet pic- 
ture of the Saviour, with Cleopas on one side and another 
disciple on the other, progressing towards Emmaus; they 
have just ascended to the top of a hill; the sun near sinking 
behind the distant mountains, shines full in their faces and 
casts long shadows down the hill from their bodies, and from 
tree3. A luxuriant and wide extended valley lays before 
them, bounded by hills on one side, interspersed by buildings 
and vineyards. The village of Emmaus lies a little to the 
right, about a mile ahead; with towering mountains beMnd, 
and extended country to the left for miles farther; the nelds 



PREFACE. xxix 

are white to harvest, reapers are seen employed ; a plow- 
man breaking up the fallow ground; and shepherds watch- 
ing their flocks on the hill, and the great shepherd and bishop 
of souls, passes along with two of his flock, ploughing their 
hearts, reclaiming his wandering followers to confirm their 
faith, so that in due time he may gather them into hts heaven- 
ly fold. It must also be seen and understood to be benefi- 
cial to the souls of men. Another is the nativity, on a smal 
scale, &x. &c. 

Jn the beginning of August last it pleased my Heavenly 
Father to afflict or permit me to be afflicted with an out. 
breaking on either leg; which prevented my painting almost 
entirely for two months, during which time 1 w 7 rote, through 
the Holy Spirit's assistance, the following discourses, except 
one which was written before, and another since, all which I 
humbly submit to the serious and candid consideration of this 
nation and people, for their temporal and eternal well-being. 
Whether you will hear or forbear, I have endeavored to be 
candid ; 'i pointing out the crimes committed in the dark; 
pervading and levelling all classes, and for which the judg- 
ments of the Almighty have been felt, as yet slightly; but if 
not repented of, will end in the utter destruction of this na- 
tion, and every soul estranged from God, for "the soul that 
sinneth it shall die;" therefore, repent as did Nin»vah, and 
be at peace with your Maker; otherwise, if you persevere 
in your rebellion you will find him an invincible enemy and 
conqueror of all you can invent and achieve under Satan, and 
dreadful will be your eternal state, if you fall singly or col- 
lectively in the devil's cause. This slight affliction may have 
thus been overruled by divine Providence for incalculable 
good to immortal souls, and his name may have likewise 
been glorified, and may still be glorified in the conversion of 
sinners. 1 have endeavored to cry aloud and spare not; to 
show you your sins and transgressions, and not suffer sin 
by any means upon you. I trust my hands* will thus 
be cleared from the blood of all men, and may God add his 



xxx PREFACE. 

blessing upon my humble endeavor, and in due time receive 
me into His glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom 
with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, be all the 
honor and glory, dominion, majesty, and power, with thanks 
and blessings, now, henceforth and forevermore. Amen. 

P. S. Since writing the above, 1 had, blessed be God my 
Holy Father for having chastened me, another severe trial 
to encounter for my folly; by stooping to listen to the degra- 
ded devil's suggestions. Yea, having descended from the 
high and exalted place in Christ; through his righteousness 
having been seated in high and heavenly places, from 
which, by giving heed to Satan, I fell, and departed partially 
from God my Saviour, who is over all blessed forevermore, 
and worthy to be honored, loved, and adored, with heart, 
mind, soul, spirit and strength, and to be worshipped in the 
beauties of holiness through Jesus Christ our Lord; whom 
the blessed God has exalted a Prince and a Saviour, and 
likewise a judge over the devil and his children. 

I was through the wiles of Satan, deceived and brought 
to grieve the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and offend my 
Heavenly Father, Saviour, and Friend, and his rod for the 
wicked, which shall not fall to the lot of the righteous, unless 
they commit iniquity, was laid upon me, and the Good Lord 
withdrew his countenance from me a little while and per- 
mitted Satan to sift me as wheat, and I had much contention 
and distress of soul for about four weeks. During this period 
I was at times wonderfully and mysteriously supported by 
Jehovah, at other times suffered to despond and to give heed 
to the doctrine of devils, "that there is no God." At the 
end of this time, however, the blessed Lord delivered me ful- 
ly, so far as to be above all doubts as to His existence, omnis- 
cience, and omnipotence, &c. " Out of six troubles 1 wilt 
deliver thee and in the seventh not forsake thee ;" saith my 
Holy Father; which promise has been abundantly verified ; 
all thanks and blessings be to him, for. having brought me 



FREFACE, xxxi 

mysteriously out of this furnace also, more refined and puri- 
fied than from all his former deliverences. Yet Satan has 
power slill to buffet me, as all shall suffer persecution who 
will live Godly in Christ Jesus, for his holy name's sake, and 
for the testimony of his word; though heaven and earth be 
destroyed, his word shall endure. 

If I had the tongue of Angels I could not sufficiently praise 
my blessed and beloved. Father for having again honored 
me by taking me into his perfect favor, through Christ to be 
more and more in Him bone allied and more firmly estab- 
lished in holy love divine on the rock of ages. Being now 
altogether reconciled to God, and as Moses able to esteem 
the reproach of Christ of greater riches than the treas- 
ures, not only of a part, but the whole world; counting all 
things dung that 1 may win Christ, who is now more than 
ever in me the hope of glory. In him, thanks to Almighty 
God, L live, and move, and have my being; and through 
whom Jehovah has again raised up my head; and blessed be 
his holy name, 1 have now more faith and confidence in 
Christ than I had before. He is truly my wisdom, righte- 
ousness, sanctification and redemption; my all in all; wealth 
in poverty; health in sickness; life in death; and shall be my 
joy and rejoicing in heaven forevermore. Therefore I desire 
to know nothing but Christ and him crucified, during my 
pilgrimage here below. 

The glorious Jehovah has thus again through me, verified 
his words, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; 11 and 
also counfounded the devil and his filthy legions in the air; 
and those co-working with them in high places; the workers 
of the spiritual wickedness of this world, of hell and dark- 
ness, mysteriously showing forth his power; for God has de- 
signs, and for their accomplishment can bring all things into 
subjection, and to subserve thereunto; which may now be 
veiled in mystery, but when all things are revealed shall be 
abundantly manifest. JNow, we know onlgin part, but then 



xxxn PREFACE. 

we shall know more perfectly when this which is in part 
shall be done away. 

As the blessed Saviour's words to his disciples, so to me : 
** Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and or- 
dained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that 
your fruit should remain, and that none shall fake you out of 
my hands." "My sheep hear my voice and 1 am known of 
them, and I know them, and give unto them eternal life." — 
" I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me 
though he were dead yet shall he live, and he that liveth and 
believeth in me shall never die." These are sweet, precious 
and glorious to all true christians, and now particularly to 
me in these degenerate limes. IVJay the blessed Jehovah my 
Holy Father support me under all trials, deliver and finally 
bring me into his everlasting kingdom of glory, through Jesus 
Christ my beloved Saviour, that I may have my portion with 
the Holy Angels and all the redeemed from the earth, in all 
joy, glory, happiness, felicity and bliss, forevermore. And 
unto the Triune Father, be all honor, dominion, majesty and 
power, with thanks and blessings, now, henceforth and for- 
evermore. Amen and Amen. 

JOHN LANDIS. 



DISCOURSE I. 

ON FAITH. 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith ; prove your 

ownselves. Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus 

Christ is in you except ye be reprobates ? 

2d. Corinthians, 1 3th Chap. 5th verse. 

The words of our text were indited by the Holy Ghost 
through St. Paul, one of the greatest of the Apostles, who was 
regenerated by the same blessed spirit in so wonderful and 
miraculous a manner as recorded in the 26th chapter of the 
Acts, The Lord Jesus appearing to him in such resplendent 
glory as to veil the Sun in his meridian splendour ; ordaining 
him a minister to preach the gospel to the people, and par 
ticularly to the Gentiles ; and was thus, as he expresses him- 
self, born out of due time; who suffered such great peril and 
hardship for Christ and the gospel's sake, and whose faith 
was frequently tried to the uttermost, but was as often de- 
livered by our gracious Lord, from all his troubles, who long 
since received him into mansions of bliss. 1 shall take oc- 
casion to refer to his writings as we proceed in our discourse* 
Let us, therefore, consider the subject under the three follow- 
ing heads: 

1st. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith 
2nd. Prove your ownselves^ and 
3d. Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in 

you except ye be reprobates ? 

First then, it has become the imperative duty of every in- 
dividual, as soon as he may be accounted responsible to the 
Great Father of the human family, for every thought, word, 
and deed, to pry into the inmost recesses of his heart, and seek 
to discover the rubbish there concealed, wrapt in unbelief, 

3 



2 ON FAITH. 

generating sinful thoughts, (which in too many has been ne- 
glected, as they have been wilfully disobedient to the com- 
mand to love God with all theheart,)which ripen to maturity, 
explode, and inevitable destruction is too often the conse- 
quence; they are plunged into misery, hurried along by their 
worldly passions, on the broad road leading to the chambers 
of eternal death; their immortal souls plunged into the un- 
fathomable abyss of outer darkness, the lake of fire and brim- 
stone, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnash- 
ing of teeth. To avoid, therefore, this awful end, examine 
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith ; for by grace are ye 
saved through faith and not of w r orks or yourselves; it is the 
gift of God obtained through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. — 
We therefore, preach the glorious life-giving gospel of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to turn you from the error of 
your ways to the living God. Christ who was made a curse 
for us; a sin offering was veiled under types and ordinances in 
the Jewish dispensation, proclaimed by the ancient prophets, 
those holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; the 
assurance of salvation was even made immediately after the 
fall, when God said the seed of the woman shall bruise the 
serpent's head; alludingto the Messiah. The patriarch Abra- 
ham heard and believed, and it was accounted to him for 
righteousness. The illustrious Saviour, obscured and veiled in 
mystery, under the title of the "Branch," "Plant of Renown," 
" The Lord our Righteousness," the prophet Isaiah styles, 
and very justly too, "The Wonderful Counsellor, the Migh- 
ty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." In 
due time the Virgin Mary received a visit from Gabriel, an 
Angel of God, exclaiming, " Hail, thou lhat art highly favor- 
ed, the Lord is with thee v blessed art thou among women;" 
perceiving her trouble of mind, he said unto her, " Fear not 
Mary, for thou hast found favor with God," and that the 
power of the Highest should overshadow her, and telling her 
to name, the child Jesus, and that he would be great, and 



ON FAITH. 3 

would be called the son of the Highest; and that the Lord 
God would give unto him the throne of his father David. — 
As it was predicted, in due time the Glorious, Bright, and 
Morning Star arose at Bethlehem, Judea, as it is written, 
"Thou Bethlehem, though least among the thousands of 
Judah, behold mighty works show themselves forth in thee." 
Here then was the object of the christian's faith presented to 
sight. His birth having been announced by an Angel of 
the Lord to neighboring shepherds, no doubt to try their 
faith, whose hearts were greatly elated by being thus 
honored by those Holy beings, sent expressly as ambassa- 
dors from the Majesty on High, to inform them that the 
long expected Messiah had appeared, commissioning them 
to proceed thither, to worship the infant Jesus; the Alpha 
and Omega, the beginning and the ending; he in whom they 
lived, moved, and had*their being; the Eternal Father, in 
the character of his only begotten Son, Emanuel, veiled in 
the human form, lying in a manger. O! what humility, mani- 
fested by unbounded, boundless love. Nothing wavering, 
but on the departure of the Celestial Host, the shepherds 
left their flocks on the mountain side and commenced their 
journey to pay obeisance to the illustrious stranger, whom 
they discovered wrapped in swadling clothes, lying in a man- 
ger; they fell down and worshipped Jesus, after which they 
presented unto him gifts, gold, and .frankincense and myrrh; 
according to the custom of the East, on the birth of great 
persons. They then returned, praising and glorifying God. 
At the circumcising of the child, Simeon* to whom it had 
been previously revealed by the Holy Ghost, was led by the 
spirit into the temple, and testified that this was the Lord's 
Christ; a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. 
Anna the prophetess coming in at the time, gave thanks 
likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all who looked 
for redemption in Jerusalem. Most certainly then, this was 
he who was to bear our iniquity; to comfort the mourners; 
to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning.; the; 



4 ON FAITH. 

garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that they might 
be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, 
that he might be glorified. John the Baptist, the forerunner 
of our Lord, when baptising the multitudes that came unto 
him, being in expectation, and musing in their hearts wheth- 
er he were the Christ, said unto them, " I indeed baptise 
you with water, but one mightier than I cometh, the latches 
of whose shoes 1 am not worthy to unloose ; he shall baptise 
you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, for to enter into the 
kingdom of Heaven, ye must all be born again from above with 
water and the Holy Spirit; whose fan is in his hand and he 
will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into 
his garner, but will burn the chaff with fire unquenchable. 
After which Jesus himself came unto John to be baptised of 
him, and lo! the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost 
descended in the form of a dove and rested upon him, and a 
voice came from heaven, saying, u This is my beloved son in 
whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." As therefore, God 
our Creator acknowledged him as his son and was pleased, 
ought not we his creatures hear and believe in him ? for in 
him dwelt the Godhead bodily. Let us examine what he 
says. After having been tempted forty days and nights of 
Satan, he was at length taken upon the pinnacle of the tem- 
ple by the devil, who said unto him, " If thou art the son of 
God cast thyself down from hence." Jesus answered and 
said, "thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Here is 
confirmed what I have been seeking to establish, that he was 
the promised Messiah in his human nature; and in the divine 
equal with God from all eternity, who said unto him, " Thy 
throne, O God, is from everlasting to everlasting; a sceptre 
of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." It is also 
said there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, 
the Son and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. 

Although in the sacred writings are many things hard to 
be understood, and although we are unable to comprehend 
the mystery of the Godhead, the Trinity in the Unity, yet 



ON FAITH. 5 

nevertheless, we are to receive and believe the truth thereof, 
for thereon depends the salvation of our immortal souls. 
" Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." " He 
that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, and he that be- 
lieveth not shall be damned," are the words of our Lord, 
delivered while tabernacling among men; going about heal- 
ing the sick, raising the dead, and giving life to as many 
as came unto him. " 1 am," says he, " the resurrection 
and the life, he that believeth in me though he were dead 
yet shall he live, and he that liveth and believeth in me shall 
never die." O glorious truth, to live forever with our Belov- 
ed in a world too unchangeable I free from heat and cold, sin,, 
sorrow, and sighing ; in a heaven of holiness, illuminated 
by the effulgent beams of the Sun of Righteousness; to see 
God as he is, face to face; who shall wipe all tears from our 
eyes, and exalt us from glory to glory, forevermore. They 
that were wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, 
and they that turned many to righteousness, as the stars 
forever and ever. 

While our Lord continued on earth, ministering to the 
Saints, building them up in the most holy faith, he wrought 
such stupendous miracles, and spake with such power, ac- 
companied with the divine unction, that compelled many to 
confess that he spake as never man spake, and that he was 
of a truth the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus 
Christ was not sent into the world to condemn the world, 
but that the world through him might be saved* Now he 
that believeth not is condemned already, because there is no 
other name given whereby men can or must be saved. Will 
you, whatever your prospects may be, will you, I repeat, 
continue in this awful state of condemnation ? if not, then 
grasp the promises through faith in the Lamb of God; whose 
blood cleanseth from all sin, and purifies unto himself pecu- 
liar people, zealous of good works. 

During our Lord's sojourn, many had their sick restored to 
health, yea even the dead were raised; the lame were healed, 



6 ON FAITH. 

and the blind restored to sight; to the broken hearted balm 
and oil were administered spiritually, and they were comfort- 
ed, and the contrite spirits were revived. Thus he continued 
dispensing his blessings, temporal and spiritual, although 
contrary to the world and its ways; by which, notwithstand- 
ing his great merit and virtue, righteousness and holiness, and 
all that was advanced to prove that he was the Son of God> 
it rejected and would not believe on him; but persecute, 
oppiess and revile him, and at length behold they crown 
him with thorns, and scourge him; he is led forth to be 
crucified ! Pause, O sinners, and behold his suffering that 
you might live! Yes, he is lead forth to be crucified : — 

Lo ! the Lord, the Lord of Glory, 

Behold him now on yonder road, 
Leading to the hill of Calvary ; 

The Lord, the Lord, Creation's God. 

Surrounded by a ruffian band 

Of soldiers, and miscellaneous crowd, 
Who beset him on oither hand, 

Reviling and upbraiding loud. 

Afar off are his companions, 

Lest they suffer for the same cause, 
Of having been faithful champions, 

Under their Master, for the truth. 

Forsaken by his intimate friends, betrayed by one and de- 
serted by the others; it was the power of darkness. He was 
nailed to the cross! became a spectacle to men and Angels, 
heaven and earth. The enormous load of human guilt, be- 
ing that of the whole world, for which he suffered, induced 
God to withdraw as it were his countenance for awhile, 
showing no signs that this was his son. During the suspen- 
sion of the intercourse with the Father, in agony and agita- 
tion of spirit, he cried out: "My God! My God! why hast 
thou forsaken 'me?" 

Yet, notwithstanding his great suffering he prayed for his 
murderers, " Father forgive them, for they know not what 
they do;" and to the women he said " weep not daughters of 



ON FAITH. 7 

Jeiusalem for me, but for yourselves and your children;" 
knowing their unbelief and depravity, to whom he had said 
on a former cccasion, " ye bring up your children ten times 
more the children of hell than ye are yourselves." 

O what an astonishing mystery! he who formed all worlds 
of nothing. The Father of Infinity, in whom all things 
move and have their being. The King of Power Omnipo- 
tent, who could have called the heavenly hosts to subdue 
and put to flight all his foes; this mighty, glorious and holy 
being — 

Hangs between heaven and earth, 

As if unworthy of either ; 
Suffers an ignominious death, 

As though only a form'd creature. 

The air resounds with cries, 

And noise, as of distant thunder; 
Earth quakes, the pillars of the skies 

Tremble, and rocks burst asunder. 

The temple is rent to the bottom; 

The Sun flies the indignant sight, 
And draws his golden beams therefrom, 

The whole earth lays in gloom as night. 

Satan with his force in hell shout, 

Darkness re-echoes hideous yells, 
The Angels of light weep aloud, 

And all heaven in sympathy melts. 

By the convulsion of the earth, and shaking the expanse 
of heaven, God, with awful majesty, who is strict in justice, 
executing judgment, answered from his throne of giory amid 
transcendant holiness; thus testifying that this was he who 
was one with, and came out from him to be man w 7 ith man, 
for the fulfilment of his promise and to atone for the sins oi 
the world. The quaking of the firmament and the com- 
mingling of sounds which struck terror into his' murderess 
and caused them to tremble, and some to exclaim, " Truly 
this was the son of God." The holy victim soon after ex- 
claimed, " It is finished; Father into thy hands I commend 



8 ON FAITH. 

my spirit;" and bowed his sacred head and died. To one 
of the thieves that was crucified with him, he said a little 
before, " Verily, to-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise " 
His faith saved him at the eleventh hour; the immortality 
of the soul was thus again established. 

Devout Joseph of Aramathea, and Nicodemus, with Pi- 
late's consent, took our Lord from the cross, and laid him in 
Joseph's own tomb, wherein never man had lain. His ene- 
mies were on the alert, and as he had said he should rise 
again in three days, they obtained Pilate's approbation to 
secure the tomb with their seal and stationed a watch around 
it. Every mind was in suspense, the Sun again resumed his 
daily round through the heavealy expanse and sunk behind 
the Western horizon; the sky all clear and serene, sprinkled 
over by an innumerable host of stars; the moon coursed 
between worlds and planets; day passed after day, night af- 
ter night; death still held his sceptre over our Lord; still and 
silent the hours passed on: his enemies exulted with one ac- 
cord; his friends were sad and forlorn; the celestial hosts of 
glory anxious to behold the event, and learn of the Almighty 
how he would the mystery unfold. The guard stood at their 
post, the rays of the midnight moon gleamed upon their hel- 
mets and their spears; the Morning Star arose, and the East- 
ern horizon again resumed its resplendent hue; the golden 
orb came apace, illumined and ushered in the dawn of the 
third day. Lo: again the earth quaked, the powers of heav- 
en shook, an angel of the Lord descended and rolled the 
stone from, the tomb; he seated himself upon it; his counte- 
nance was like lightning, his raiment white as snow; the guards 
Were terrified, confounded, and'fell to the ground. Lo! he 
new comes forth from the tomb, the conqueror of sin, death, 
bell and tiie devil. Who is this that comes from Edom 
with dyed garments from Bozrah ? this that is glorious in his 
apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength; to which 
the illustrious Saviour replied, " I that speak in very right- 
eousness, mighty to gave." He arose triumphantly, the first 



ON FAITH. 9 

fruit of nature's earthy womb, and subdued death of its 
terror: — 

Lo ! never was the creation, 

Veii'd in splendour so glorious; 
Nor auspicious morn to ev'ry nation, 

To inspire with hope and make righteous. 

'Twas the Universe's jubilee, 

Vallies and lawns lift up their voice, 
There was melody 'mong the trees ; 

The hills and mountains did rejoice. 

The inhabitants of the air, 

Were passing, warbling to and fro, 
The morning stars sang together, 

And all God's sons shouted loud for joy. 

The air resounded with songs of praise, 

Re-echoed by the highest heaven, 
Oe'r Oceans, deserts, and highways, 

To our illustrious Prince of Zion. 

Early in the morning came Mary Magdalene and the 
other Mary, to see the sepulchre; the angel answered and 
said, "Fear not ye, for 1 know that ye seek Jesus which 
was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen as he said. — 
Come see the place where the Lord lay." He then told 
them to inform his disciples that Jesus had risen, and would 
go before them into Gallilee. While returning with fear 
and great joy, they met Christ, saying, " All Hail." They 
fell down and worshipped him, who confirmed the words of 
the Angel that he would go into Gallilee. He afterwards 
appeared to Cleopas and another of the disciples on the road 
leading to Emmaus, their sight being held so as not to know 
their former master; perceiving their grief, he inquired the 
cause; they inform him of the crucifixion of Jesus and all 
that had happened in Jerusalem, adding thai it was thought 
he should have been Israel's redeemer; but it was the third 
day since he died, and that certain women had seen a vi- 
sion of Angels, who said he had risen. Jesus answered and 
said, " O fools, and slow of heart, to believe all that the 



10 ON FAITH. 

prophets have spoken." He then expounded the scripture 
unto them, beginning at Moses, through all the prophets; how 
that Christ ought to have suffered for to enter into his glory. 
They arrived at the village, and the disciples constrained him 
to stay with them; he went in, (being towards evening) and 
while at meat took bread, blessed it, and gave to them, and 
their eyes were opened, so that they l^new him, and he van- 
ished out of their sight. They immediately returned to Je- 
rusalem, and meeting the disciples and others assembled 
together, they made known what had occurred on the way, 
and how Christ was known to them by breaking of bread. 
While they yet spake, Jesus appeared in their midst, saying, 
" Peace be unto you," but they supposing him to be a spirit, 
were terrified and affrighted; he said unto them, " Why are 
ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ?" he 
added that a spirit had not flesh and bones as he had, and 
showed them his hands and feet to convince them of their 
unbelief; and while they yet doubted and wondered for joy, 
he demanded whether they had any meat, and did eat be- 
fore them. He then confirmed his former sayings, that all 
things had to be fulfilled which was written in the law of 
Moses, in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning him; 
and he opened their understanding that they might know the 
scriptures; that Christ would pour floods of light into every 
benighted sonl, this day illuminate every one so as to obtain 
a living faith, that the word of God might have free course, 
and be glorified, that sinners would no longer suffer Satan, 
the great enemy of immortal souls, to take the Word out 
of their hearts, and deprive them of the comfort they might 
otherwise enjoy, by bringing forth fruit an hundred fold, by 
believing with the heart unto righteousness. Jesus also said 
unto them, as it was written, so it behoved Christ to suffer 
and rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and 
remission of sins should be preached in his name among all 
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. It appeared that one of the 
twelve, named Thomas, was not with them when Jesus 



ON FAITH. 11 

appeared to them; they informed him of the fact, but his in- 
credulity induced him to say, that unless he saw the print of 
the nails and put his finger into them, and his hand into his 
side, he would not believe. Eight days after, they were 
again together, when Jesus appeared in the midst of them 
saying, " Peace be unto you;" and to Thomas he said, reach 
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy 
hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but be- 
lieve. Thomas then exclaimed, " i\ly Lord, and my God!" 
Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen thou 
believest; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe. 
So shall it be to the end of time, as long as the earth re- 
volves; the sun, moon, and stars continue in their courses in 
the firmament, those that believe shall be saved, and those 
that believe not shall be damned: " Examine yourselves, 
whether ye be in the faith." 

Again Jesus showed himself to his disciples at the sea of 
Tiberias, where Simon Peter, Thomas, and five others were 
together fishing. Having toiled all night and taken nothing, 
the darkness disappeared before the lustre of the morn, with 
the Sun illuminating the surrounding scene, when a person 
appeared on the shore, as if come from a Golden Beam, who 
accosted them and said, cast thy net on the right hand side 
of the ship; they therefore dropt it as he said, and were now 
unable to draw it for the multitude of fishes. The disciple 
whom Jesus loved, said unto Peter, it is Jesus the Lord.— 
Peter immediately girt on his coat and threw himself into the 
water, hastening to his adored; the others followed in the 
ship, dragging the net. After landing they beheld a fire with 
fish and bread thereon; they there dined with Jesus, who 
gave them bread and fish; ministering unto them temporal? 
as well as spiritual things; from whom, with the Father and 
Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end, cometh every 
good and perfect gift. There was such holy awe upon them 
that none durst ask, " Who art thou?" knowing he was the 
Prince of Zion. He did not remain with his disciples as he 



12 ON FAITH. 

was wont, but his visits were as those of an angel, at inter- 
vals, to confirm, strengthen and perfect them in their most 
holy faith, and to prepare them more fully for the ministry; 
to be his witnesses wherever they should be sent by him, 
ordaining them to teach all nations, and to baptise them in 
the name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of 
God the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things he 
had commanded them, and he would be with them always, 
even unto the end of the world. He was afterwards follow- 
ed by them, together with many others, in number about five 
hundred, to Rethany, where he lifted up his hands and bles- 
sed them, and immediately a cloud received him out of their 
sight, and carried him up into heaven; the company fell down 
and worshipped him; and as they were looking after him, 
towards heaven, two men in white apparel stood by them 
saying, " Ye men of Gallilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into 
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him 
go into heaven." They then returned, praising and glorifying 
God. 

1 have now shown from scripture testimony, beyond the 
power of contradiction, that Christ was born; ministered here 
on earth; accomplished his mission; and ascended up on high, 
to assume his former greatness; and as mediator of the new 
covenant which he has established, whom God hath also 
highly exalted and given him a name above every other, that 
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in 
heaven, and of things on earth, and of things under the earth; 
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, to 
the glory of God the Father: and also exalted him a Prince 
and a Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins to 
all that come unto him, believing that he is the Saviour, God, 
and a rewarder of all who diligently seek him. 

His apostles being endued with power from on high, and 
filled with the Holy Ghost, spake with other tongues, testi- 
fying to all these wonderful things, confounding the people 



ON FAITH. 13 

who heard them, every one in his own dialect, from various 
countries, that were journeying in Jerusalem, and who heard 
them speak the wonderful works of God; they were amazed 
and in doubt, saying one to another, " What meaneth this?" 
others mocked, but Peter with the eleven became more bold 
and labored with more zeal, and preached more fervently to 
convince them of the truth stated above, relating to our 
Emanuel, whom they had slain, whose soul was not left in 
hell, neither did his flesh see corruption; and whom God 
raised from the dead, and exalted to his own right hand, un- 
til he should make all his foes his footstool; and he also as- 
sured them that God had made this same Jesus whom they 
had crucified, both Lord and Christ; which caused some to 
tremble, and to be pricked in their hearts, crying out to the 
Apostles, w Men and brethren what shall we do ?" To which 
Peter replied, u Repent and be baptised every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost;" and with many 
words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from 
this untoward generation. As many as received these im- 
portant truths, were baptised, and the same day were added 
unto the church about three thousand souls, who remained 
steadfast in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in 
breaking of bread and in prayers. 

As Peter and John were going into the temple at the time 
of prayer, they were asked for alms by one who had been 
impotent in his feet from his mother's womb; who lay daily 
at the gate called beautiful, to whom Peter said, silver or 
gold have 1 none, but such as I have give 1 thee; in the name 
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Peter took 
him by the hand, when he immediately received strength, 
leaped and praised God. The multitude were again aston- 
ished at what they saw; Peter with his former firmness, among 
other things, said unto them, ye have denied the Holy One 
and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, 
and killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised from 



14 ON FAITH. 

the dead, whereof we are witnesses. And He, through faith 
in his name, hcith made the man strong, whom they saw and 
knew; yea the faith that is in him had given him that perfect 
soundness in the presence of them all. We find that the 
apostles continued to preach and persuade men to repent, 
and confirmed their words by miracles, God bearing them 
witness with signs and wonders, for whom they had the hon- 
or to suffer persecution, and at different times imprisonment 
for the benefit of men, and the salvation of souls; they pa- 
tiently endured all things that their enemies might behold 
the wonderful mercy and goodness of God, manifested in 
their behalf, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but 
rather that all should repent and live. Out of all their per- 
plexity and trouble the blessed Lord delivered them, and 
afterward received them to glory, according to the power of 
faith which is in Christ Jesus. "Examine yourselves, wheth- 
er ye be in the faith. 1 ' 

Jesus Christ sayeth, "Not every one that shall say unto 
me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but 
he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven." A 
loose, worldly faith, therefore, availeth nothing, for even the 
devils believe and tremble, knowing that there is no possi- 
bility for them to repent, and be accepted through the merit 
and blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, which was slain 
for your sins, provided while you are yet in time, you attain 
unto a lively faith; a faith which works by love and tempers 
every unholy feeling to its own congenial nature; purifying 
your affections, so that you may be able to love, reverence, 
and honor God as you should; to worship him in spirit and 
in truth and in the beauty of holiness; to delight moie and 
more in God and every thing heavenly and divine; abhoring 
at the same time all that has the least appearance oi evil; 
and to pant after the perfect love of God, as a hart panteth 
after the water-brook; longing for it as for your daily food; 
as it is written, the just shall live by faith, and whatsoever 
is not of faith is sinful; you, will then do all for the glory of 



ON FAITH. 15 

God, and shun every thing that is opposed to vital Godliness 
and the spreading of true Christianity over the whole earth; 
you will no longer seek after earthly things doomed to perish 
as the grass, nor your own glory, which passeth away as the 
flower of the field ; but after the things above, where also 
Jesus has entered into the holy of holies; your conversation 
will be in heaven; you will feast in love with the Father and 
the Son, through the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost; fore- 
taste of the immortal sweets which the holy hill of Sion 
yields to the true believer, whose trust is in simplicity, in the 
goodness and mercy of God, with sincerity and uprightness 
of heart, humbly laying hold on the Omnipotent Arm of Je- 
hovah, and pressing toward the mark of their high calling 
which is in Christ Jesus; always zealously affected in a good 
thing; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; instant in prayer in 
season and out of season; watching and supplicating to grow 
in grace, in knowledge, wisdom and understanding, in heav- 
enly-mindedness; to be like unto the Angels of God, pure and 
holy; with whom you are certain if you endure unto the end, 
to associate; you will therefore watch and pray, so that no 
man take away your crown; sing praises and make melody 
in your heart unto God; ; whose temple you are, as our dear 
Saviour saith, John, 14th chapter, 23d verse — " If a man 
love me he will keep my words, and my Father will honor 
him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with 
him." You will also walk in the spirit every day, so as not 
to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, for he that commiteth sin and 
indulges in carnal pleasures to gratify his own passions, or 
to please his neighbors, contrary to all revelation, and to the 
will of God, is of the devil, who is the father of all evil, a liar 
and murderer from the beginning. 1 exhort you, young and 
old, by all that should be most dear to you; by your immor- 
tal souls, to dissolve all consection this day, with so foul and 
cruel a master; no longer to be his slaves, remaining in bon- 
dage to him, driven hither and thither in his abominable 
cause; mark the result when persevered in— eternal death, 



16 ON FAITH. 

and the torments of hell and outer darkness, prepared for him 
and his angels, as a recompence of reward; O poor com' 
pensation, yet there is none other promised to those dying in 
his service* who will never have known true peace and com- 
fort in time, to be enjoyed by a life of Godliness* and in eter- 
nity, as we have stated, everlasting contempt and banishment 
from the presence of God, the Lord Christ, the Holy Angels, 
and the just made perfect; living in resplendent glory, surpas- 
sing the lustre of the meridian Sun, unutterable bliss, and in- 
describable holy happiness. 1 exhort you once more to break 
all ties with Satan, as you cannot serve him and God; there- 
fore, if you desire to be saved through the atonement of 
Christ* the mighty chieftain of our salvation, break, I say, 
break the bonds of Satan, by which you are held captive at 
his will — through the power of faith working by love, which 
you may obtain without money and without price, at the foot 
of the cross. 

We shall now proceed to the second part of our subject. 
Secondly. Prove your ownselves: — 

As each and every one, seperately and collectively, as a 
body, is and are responsible for all that is done here in time, 
to our great Parent, the Author of our being, and every good 
and perfect gift, our bountiful benefactor, and merciful provi- 
der; whose promises to all true believers* are yea and amen, 
everlasting life in Heaven to all holy; and outer darkness 
prepared for the devil and his angels, where there shall be 
weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, to all unbeliev- 
ers, the seed of the serpent forever. God through Christ, 
the Almighty, the habitation of whose throne is Justice, and 
Judgment goeth before him, will most assuredly fulfil his 
words, although heaven and earth pass away, and doom ev- 
ery impenitent sinner to eternal death: ah! were it a death 
like unto the brute creation's, an annihilation forever, there 
would be some excuse for sinners to live as they do, day after 
day, and night after night, working iniquity with greediness; 
but be it known to all you, that God, glory to his name, has 



ON FAITH. 17 

fionored us far above the animal creation, which 1 need not 
inform you, neither speak nor understand to any perfection; 
they are incapable of arranging ideas; they are void of com 
prehension, and therefoie, not accountable to their Creator 
for their actions, as are men who possess immortal souls; yet 
notwithstanding, by their demeanor they often give the blush 
to some of the doings of men performed in the dark, and too 
often in the open day, in the face of High Heaven, and Him 
that sitteth on the throne, who is perfect in holiness. O the 
filthy odour ascending from the abominations committed on 
the earth, instead of praises and blessings to mingle with the 
heavenly strains of the celestial hosts, who unweariedly sing 
44 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who wast, and 
art, and art to come; just and true are thy ways, thou King 
of Saints." Men, I say again, are accountable for their ac- 
tions, because Adam and Eve, our first parents, came pure 
and holy from the hands of the Creator, in his own likeness, 
with immortal souls and faculties to reason and understand, 
to commune and hold conversation together for the consum- 
mation of their happiness; in which state they might have 
remained, being free agents, but through the subtilty of Satan 
they fell from their high and holy estate, and awful was the 
consequence; disgrace upon themselves, and expulsion from 
Paradise, and sin and misery upon all their posterity, whence 
it comes that men are all born in sin and prone to evil.— 
However, God, whose mercy endureth forever, came to our 
relief and provided a remedy to heal the breach and open a 
way to glory, as 1 have stated in the preceeding part of my 
discourse : — " Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and 
rock of offence, that whosoever believeth on him shall be 
saved, and whosoever believeth not shall be damned.'" Men 
and brethren you are called upon to prove your ownselves, 
whether ye are not offended at this stumbling stone, and rock 
of offence; pry into the secrets of your hearts, and see if you 
have any inclination to undervalue the merit of this holy 
Being, who is often made an object of ridicule by little 

4 



18 ON FAITH. 

minds; or, do you openly profane and blaspheme his holy 
name, as too many do, making light of divine things, taking 
the holy name of God and his Christ into their polluted lips, 
making puns upon them to amuse their hearers and appear 
witty, not knowing that they are proving themselves desti- 
tute of common sense; or are you building upon this founda- 
tion, firm as eternal ages; are you through Christ purging 
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God, 
that will recommend you to the sight of all men. Take the 
New Testament and prove your ownselves, whether your 
hearts are right in the sight of God; be not deceived, for God 
is not mocked; knowing his terrors we would fain persuade 
you to turn fi om the error of your ways, turn, turn you, why 
will ye die ? Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompence 
saith the Lord, the Holy one of Israel. And again, the Lord 
will judge his people. \ erily it is a fearful thing to fall into 
the hands of the living God. 
Thirdly. Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ 

is in you, except ye be reprobates? 

Now to know oneself is no small matter. The deprav- 
ity and desperate wickedness of the human heart, who can 
know it ? No one is sufficient of himself, without the aid of 
the Holy Spirit, to attain to a knowledge of himself. The 
deceitfulness of sin, and the subtle suggestions of Satan mix 
with the corrupt nature almost imperceptibly, and those that 
are not thoroughly awake, and under divine influence, will 
be unable to discover the seed thus sown by the wicked one, 
until they are overgrown with weeds and briars, thorns and 
thistles, the pricking of which will at length rouse them from 
their carnal sleep and unholy dreaming, when they will dis- 
cover they have been deceived; but alas! for many it will 
then be forever too late, having passed the rubicon of time to 
appear before the inflexible bar of Christ. Would it not there- 
fore, be infinitely better for every one to judge himself here, 
and without delay, than to be judged beyond the grave; for 
Christ saith, " He that judgeth himself shall not be judged," 



ON FAITH. 19 

meaning also of course, that he will depart from all iniquity, 
and lead a new and holy life. But, say some, how can we 
judge ourselves, without knowing that which is sin from that 
which is holy ? True, you cannot, therefore, read and be- 
lieve the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, 
and they are they which testify of me, saith the Judge of all 
the earth. Keep his words and commandments, which shall 
judjje you at the last day; to disregard them you are at once 
guilty criminals in his sight, and his wrath abides upon you, 
because you say in effect we will not have him to reign over 
us. Who is he that should make laws for us ? It is indeed 
lamentable to know that there are thousands, yea millions of 
human beings in the world, called christians, who live with- 
out hope, and consequently a saving knowledge of God, and 
trample his holy laws under foot with impunity, while at the 
same time the commandments of men they will not presume 
to violate! It is astonishing the hatred some bear towards 
the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, with whose statutes 
holy King David was so much delighted, declaring them to 
be l just, and wise, and good; 1 ' and at another place he says» 
" depart from me ye evil doers, for L will keep the command- 
ments of my God." Who art thou O man, that darest to 
magnify thyself and contemn the counsels of the Most High? 
to annul those laws that were given to Moses, the man of 
God, with such terrible majesty, and awful solemnity on 
Mount Sinai ? Read it in Exodus, 20th chapter, when the 
Lord descended in a cloud, wind, fire, thunder lightning and 
tempest, and the mighty soundings of the trumpet; when the 
Mount greatly quaked, the sight being so terrible that even 
Moses said, " I exceedingly fear and quake;" his whole host 
trembled. Having been forty days and nights with God on 
the Mount, during which time he eat nothing, but received 
and descended with the Divine Law of the Ten Command- 
ments written upon stone by God himself, and which are to 
endure until time shall be no more; neither are they made 
void by the new covenant which is by Jesus Christ. The 



20 ON FAITH. 

great apostle saith by faith we do not annul but establish the 
law. Remember all that is written in the law and the proph- 
ets shall be fulfilled; consequently no idolator, nor swearer, 
nor blasphemer, nor Sabbath breaker, nor despiser of parents, 
nor murderer, nor adulterer, nor fornicator, nor false accuser, 
nor covetous nor whoremonger, nor abuser of himself with 
mankind, nor drunkard, shall enter into the kingdom of God, 
unless they labor to know themselves, and that their practi- 
ces are an abomination in the sight of heaven, and repent 
of their sins at the foot of the cross, through our Saviour and 
Mediator, Jesus Christ — the Way, the Truth, and the Life — 
and put on the new man, which after him is created in righte- 
ousness and true holiness, Know this, O hardened sinners, 
that he is constantly interceeding with the Father in your be- 
half, to stay his avenging rod, that he would dig about you, 
that haply you may bring forth good fruit, if ye are not al- 
ready given over to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind? 
if not, that you should then be cut down as dead trees and as 
cumberers of the ground, and cast into the unquenchable 
fire. 

2d. How that Jesus Christ is in you except ye he reprobates? 
All you that have been born again, as our Lord said to 
Nichodemus, of water and of the spirit, regenerated, passed 
from condemnation into life, by a lively faith in Jesus through 
his merit and righteousness, and being purified by his most 
precious and holy blood, which cleanses from all sins, and to 
whom Christ has become wisdom, and righteousness, and 
sanctification and redemption, are the temple of God, 
" Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the 
spirit of God dwelieth in you;" 1st. Cor., 3d chap. lGth ver. 
And if God, then Jesus Christ, who is God, dwelieth in you, 
even the Mystic Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; 
pollute not therefore, so holy a tabernacle, by listening to 
the unholy suggestions of Satan, to beguile you into your 
old habits in which we used to walk, fulfilling the lusts o 
the flesh, but out of which we have passed into the glorious 



ON FAITH. 21 

liberty which is in Jesus Christ, our master and pattern, 
through whom we have attained unto the fulness of his blessed 
stature in holiness; let it not therefore, be once mentioned 
among you, that you desired to indulge in any carnal pleas- 
ure, and thus lower the dignity of true Saints, and bring into 
disrepute vital Christianity at the same time, and above all 
doing despite to the holy spirit of grace whose temple we are, 
being reconciled unto God through faith in Jesus Christ, our 
Lord, and enabled to cry Abba, Abba Father, in the lan- 
guage of the JNew Testament, and privileged boldly to ap- 
proach him and hold sweet communion with him, as a child 
with his father, by prayer and supplications, singing and 
meditations, and devotional exercises. We also enjoy the 
blessing of the direct witness of the Holy Spirit, testifying 
with our spirits, that we are born of God, and adopted sons 
and heirs, and joint heirs With Christ; and by remaining 
faithful, shall soon be with him in Paradise, where he is en- 
throned in indescribable Glory; eye hath not seen, nor ear 
heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to con- 
ceive the joys prepared for his saints and peculiar people, 
zealous of goad works; and to keep under our adversary the 
Prince of darkness, and his force, our spiritual enemies, or- 
ganized under him, and going about as roaring Lions, and 
Wolves in Sheep's clothing, seeking whom they may devour, 
combined with men in the shape of ourselves, who have the 
form of Godliness but deny the power, building for themselves 
cisterns, broken cisterns w T hich can hold no water; their case 
is lamentable in the extreme, as many of them come under 
the conclusion of our text. St. Paul also terms them "men 
of corrupt minds, reprobates, concerning the faith; ever learn- 
ing and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth;" 
creatures who delight in pleasure; enemies to vital christian- 
ty and holiness, consequently diametrically opposed to the 
kingdom of heaven, and to God who dwelleth in the High 
and Holy place, and saith, "Be ye holy as 1 am holy." Ex- 
amine and prove yourselves, your immortal souls are at 



22 ON FAITH. 

stake; heaven or hell for a recompense; eternal bliss, or eter- 
nal torment. The righteous will be most certainly received 
into glory, to live in great joy and rejoicing forever; and the 
wicked with all the nations that forget God, will as certainly 
be turned into hell and tormented forever. It is high time to 
be men in understanding, and resist the adversary, your old 
master, and tell him you will no longer submit to his yoke, 
to be hewers of wood and drawers of water for him, or, in 
other words, that you will no longer serve him, be his slaves, 
or fulfil criminal indulgences, the lusts of the flesh in va- 
rious ways; resist I repeat; the devil resolutely at the foot of 
the cross, with full purpose of heart henceforth to serve the 
true and living God, and Satan shall flee from you, for 
Christ hath spoken it. O that you would become believing, 
obedient children. O that you would consider your latter 
end ere it be too late. Where would your immortal souls 
be most happy ? 1 presume you all admit that you have 
souls, or am I addressing infidels? there may be some among 
us, however, may they by the grace of God, be roused from 
their unholy dreaming ere they awake in hell. Where 
would your immortal souls be now, had God — do you believe 
there is a God, or do I address atheists ? if you believe in the 
Divine Being, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent, 
why do you dare to disobey his words and dishonor him, and 
also despise the inestimable treasure, when properly cultiva- 
ted, in your possession; that spark which is to live forever, 
either in heaven or hell; that portion of the Deity, your im- 
mortal souls — had God called or would now summon you to 
give account at his bar, had death overtaken or would do so 
ere to morrow's Sun; remember the time and the seasons are 
in Jehovah's hands; how do you think you would fare in eter- 
nity? would this discourse also have availed you nothing; 
been as good seed sown upon hard, dry, and unproductive 
ground; repelled by the adamantine texture of your hearts; 
or snatched away by Satan your cruel enemy, who hitherto 
held you in bondage and slavery, kept your souls in darkness, 



ON FAITH. 23 

deluding; you in various ways, making you believe that the 
glorious gospel scheme of Salvation, through our blessed Lord 
Jesus Christ, was all a chimera; and even succeeded in get- 
ting some to believe there was no God, no heaven to gain 
nor hell to shun, and that they had no immortal souls; level- 
ling them, on this subject, to the brute creation, which neither 
speak nor understand. I would fain caution you now to put 
you on your guard foi the future; to beware of his subtilty; 
he will keep you in his service forever, if you do not out gen- 
eral him, through the merits of Jesus Christ, the King of Glo- 
ry, and take refuge in the Rock of Ages, and repel him with 
the christian's armor, with the shield of faith, the helmet of 
hope, the breast-plate of righteousness, and the sword of the 
Holy Spirit, which is also the word of God. Be therefore, 
up and doing; work out your soul's salvation with fear and 
trembling while it is day, ere the night comes upon you and 
ye will then be unable so to do; if you persevere in your re- 
bellion against God, instead of warring in his cause, for his 
glory and also yours, as there is none other worth a straw, 
you are liable to be given over, (having exhausted God's 
mercy in your behalf) to hardness of heart and reprobateness 
of mind, and thus come under the last clause of our text. — 
Furthermore, they that have been often reproved and stiffen 
their necks shall be cut off suddenly,and that without remedy? 
and this may be to all of you. O self-secure, drowsy sinners, 
in a few more revolving suns your bodies may be buried beg 
neath the clods of the valley, or perhaps some with more 
pomp and ceremony, in some temple or cathedral, with a 
tablet over your mortal remains to secure your fame to 
posterity, to live forever as the blind world calls it; while 
your immortal souls may be in torments with the damned, 
having been condemned at the bar of Jehovah, and doomed 
to a death that never, never ends. Now while it is yet this 
side the grave, 1 would fain whisper it into every one of 
your ears, yea, and also proclaim it upon the house top, 
that the only way to live forever, is through faith in Him 



24 ON FAITH. 

who saith, " I am the resurrection and the life, he that be. 
lieveth in me though he were dead yet shall he live, and he 
that liveth and believeth in me shall never die." May this 
be the portion of us all, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to 
whom with Father and Holy Spirit, be all the honor, glory, 
dominion, majesty and power, now, henceforth, and forever- 
more* Amen.. 



DISCOURSE II. 

ON FAITH. 

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, 
Romans, 1 Oth chapter, 1 1th verse. 

These are the words of the great apostle to the Romans, 
a people who had been, previous to his mission among them, 
in a state of barbarism, worshipping strange Gods, birds, 
beasts, and creeping things, and thus indulging in gross idol- 
atries; they did not like to retain the knowledge of the true 
God in their minds, and consequently were given over by 
the Almighty to commit all manner of filthy lewdness, to the 
abusing their bodies between one another; even their women 
left off the natural way and permitted themselves to be used 
against nature and even savage decency, and if you allow 
me the expression, civilization. He also describes them as 
implacably unmerciful, full of eavy, hatred, malice, murder, 
deceit, estranged from all natural affection and more akin to 
the beasts, if not below them, than to say even a moral state 
of human beings; and therefore, without doubt, worshippers 
of devils, exercising themselves in their hellish inventions, 
working in the black art w T ith familiar spirits, with devils, 
and committing all filthy abominations with these foul spirits, 
and consequently stunk in the nostrils of Jehovah, as all have 
done before them, and will to the end of time, that are so 
far degenerated and sunk beneath the decency of swine and 
dogs. When a nation becomes thus degraded, as mentioned 
by our blessed Lord in his sermon on the mount, they may 
expect little else than to be speedily judged from on high, 
and that a holy God will avenge himself of such filthy, dis- 
gusting creatures, and cleanse his nostrils of the stink; he 
had done it in many instances before, and even the people 
whom he chose to put his name upon did not escape his 



26 ON FAITH. 

judgments and avenging rod. He bears an inveterate ha- 
tred against all that live in such abominable filthiness, even 
individually, and how much more when a nation disregards 
his smiles and frowns, and in all their proceedings think to 
vex him, and to stink more and more in his nostrils. Verily 
their career is hastening to a speedy close, their days are 
numbered, their destruction is hastening on apace, and as 
holy David says, "They are turned into hell." And so it was 
also with this nation, he brought their pride down to the 
dung heap, and what are they now as a nation ? only for 
people resorting thither from other nations, they would be un- 
able to get a temporal livelihood. 

Thus the Omniscient eye of the Lord of Hosts dodges 
after the ways of the wicked, and his Omnipotent arm strikes 
them to the ground. He is a God jealous of his own glory, 
and will never give up the earth to the devil, as some may 
vainly imagine, but will always have a holy nation of Kings 
and Priests, among all nation's of the earth, a peculiar people 
whom he delights to honor : — 

"He looks 'mid circumvolving spheres, 

Complaisant on his ransom'd heirs, 
More dear than all his works beside, 

Blest souls for whom the Saviour died." 

Yea verily, God does in his saints delight; they are the ap- 
ple of his eye, and as trees planted by the rivers of waters» 
bringing forth fruit of a sweet savour; their leaves also shall 
not wither, and they shall flourish as the rose and the lilly 
under the light of his countenance. " The ungodly are not 
so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away." — 
1 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor 
sinners in the congregation of the righteous." " For the 
Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the 
ungodly shall perish." 

I have been thus lengthy descanting on the prevailing sins 
of the Romans, and for which also other nations were anni- 
hilated, because I am among creatures of similar dispositions, 



ON FAITH. 27 

a nation of evildoers, which do away from before their eyes 
the fear of the Holy and Omnipotent God, and revel in 
abominations similar to their brethren, the Romans and oth- 
ers, and like them glory in their shame; therefore 1 am con- 
strained, yea 1 am enjoined by my blessed master, the worthy 
Judge Eternal, to warn you to flee from the wrath to come. 
" Spare not, but cry aloud, show the people their transgres- 
sions, and the house of Israel their sins." Son of man. — 
"These men have set up their idols in their heart, and put 
the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face; should 
1 be enquired of at all by them?" Therefore thus saith the 
Lord God, " Repent and turn yourselves from your idols, 
and turn away your faces from all your abominations." 
" For every one which separateth himself from me, and set, 
teth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block 
of iniquity before his face, I will set my face against that 
man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and 1 will cut 
him off from the midst of my people, and ye shall know that 
I am the Lord." Son of man. "When the land sinneth 
against me by tresspassing grievously, then will 1 stretch out 
my hand upon it, and I will break the staffof bread thereof, and 
and will send famine upon it and cut off man and beast from it; 
and if I bring- a sword upon that land and say, sword go through 
the land, so that I cut off man and beast from it; or if I send 
a pestilence into that land and pour out my fury upon it in 
blood, to cut off man and beast, though Noah, Daniel and 
Job were in it, as I live saith the Lord God, they shall deliver 
neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own 
souls by their righteousness." [Read Ezekiel, 14th chap. 
O how odius, abominable and disgusting a people can be- 
come to a holy God, an utter abhorrence, and as dung in his 
sight; so much so that in their general destruction his own 
people are not always, through his mercy, spared from falling 
in the overthrow, and should they even be as holy as JNoah, 
Daniel and Job, yet however, their souls will be safe — will 
be received into glory. 



28 ON FAITH. 

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of 
God ; which, by him was put into the mouths of his proph 
ets, apostles and true ambassadors, and they spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost, and these words are now 
printed in a book which we call a " Bible," so that every 
one that can read may discover his duty to himself, to the 
nation he belongs, to the whole human family, and above 
all to his God ; or however, He who ought to be his God ; 
the God that governs the heavens and the earth, who sits in 
the high and holy place, and sees all that passes in the uni- 
verse. And they that cannot read may hear others read, 
and thus likewise, be informed of their duty ; and all may 
have frequent opportunity to hear a true messenger, a holy 
man of God, sent to deliver his words to rebellious sinners. 
I must however confess, that there are very few of this pre- 
cious sort now abroad ; those that officiate in the sanctuary, 
have nearly, if not all, sunk in the general degradation, and 
have their delight in the prevailing abomination, and there- 
fore, I have also a message to them. 

" Son of man, prophecy against the prophets of Israel that 
prophecy out of their own hearts, hear ye the word of the 
Lord: "Wo unto the foolish prophets, they are like the foxes 
in the desert ; they have not gone up into the gaps, neither 
made up the hedge for the house of Israel, to stand in the 
battle in the day of the Lord. They have seen vanity and 
lying divinations, and they have made others to hope that 
they would confirm the word." Therefore, thus saith the 
Lord God, " Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, 
therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God ; 
and my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and 
that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my 
people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the 
house of Israel, (the lambs book of life,) neither shall they 
enter into the land of Israel, (the Paradise above,) and ye 
shall know that I am the Lord God." " Because, even be- 
cause they have seduced my people, saying; peace, and 



ON FAITH. 29 

there was no peace; building up walls and daubing them with 
untempered mortar; say unto them which daub it with un- 
tempered mortar, it shall fall ; so will 1 break down the wall 
that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it 
down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be 
discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the 
midst thereof; and ye shall know that 1 am the Lord. Thus 
will 1 accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them 
that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say 
unto you, the wall is no more, neither they that daubed it" 

Thus will the Lord God avenge himself of his filthy ene- 
mies, which have become stink in his nostrils, and that go 
about glorying in their shame, when they ought to tremble 
and quake and hide their diminished heads. " Enter into 
the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and 
for the glory of his majesty." Yea, they ought ever to be 
ashamed before the Angels and Saints of Heaven, if they 
are not so of those on earth, — because they are so very, very 
few — in consequence of their misdoing in not watching over 
the souls of those over whom they preside or presided, until 
the devil made them confirmed children of hell ; now they 
can partake of their sins, work their filthy abominations 
together, and go in and out among their swinish brethren $ 
vide sermon on the mount — and say the Lord is such a one 
as I am: thus with one accord trample the precious and 
holy blood of Christ under their feet, and make his words of 
no effect; and if ever they were converted unto God, through 
the blood of our blessed High Priest, and ordained by the 
Holy Ghost to preach the gospel, they cannot possibly be 
so now — as the} do not walk with him, nor seek to please 
and honor him, nor strive to save their souls, nor those of 
their fellow men. They draw nigh to God with their lips, 
while their hearts are far from him ; and unless they become 
converted, their faith becomes a living faith in Jesus, and 
their righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Phara- 
sees: they shall never enter into Jehovah's kingdom ; into his 
rest ; into the home of the saints. 



30 ON FAITH. 

There may, however, be exceptions to the general de- 
generacy of those that work among the holy things, but 
where they are, God knows, 1 do not. Yea, verily, God 
knows and standeth for his people who boldly fight un- 
der the banner of Jesus, the captain of our salvation; 
through him we shall overcome and bear off the prize. 
He it is who treadeth down our enemies, although they 
be as the sand of the sea, innumerable. Church, so cal- 
led ; no church out of Christ; in him is the true church, 
whose head he is — church and state fighting against us, by 
consequence fight against Christ, against God, the sovereign 
creator a?>d ruler of the universe; they cannot and shall not 
endure when he speedily arises to shake terribly the earth. 
" The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughti- 
ness of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall 
be exalted in that day." "in that day shall the branch of 
the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth 
shall be excellent and comely tor them that are escaped of 
Israel." Yea, shall the Lord not arise to greater judgment 
and avenge himself of a nation like this? O ye generation 
of vipers, flee, flee from the wrath to come; repent ye, repent 
of your sins and abominations, do away the evil from before 
the holy eyes of the Lord; hear the words of life, "confess 
your sins with your mouth and believe in your heart unto 
righteousness," even the righteousness of Jesus, that ye .may 
be able to stand in the judgment with the saints of God and 
the Lamb. 

As a nation hear ye the words of the Lord, not in vain but 
to invite you to immediate action, the case will admit of no 
delay — as also ISinevah heard and believed the words of Jo- 
nah, and consequently immediately repented in sackcloth 
and ashes, and the judgments of Jehovah were arrested, go 
ye speedily and do likewise, that haply his judgments be 
stayed and ye perish not in the gainsaying of Core; and be- 
come an example to the rest of the world, like unto Sodam 
and Gomorrah. " Wo unto them that call evil good and 



ON FAITH. 31 

good evil ; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; 
that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter; which justify 
the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of 
the righteous from him, 1 ' therefore, "as the fire devoureth the 
stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root 
sh dl be rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; 
because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, 
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." 

These are terrible denunciations, even to individual sinners, 
but when a nation becomes degraded in wickedness, wise in 
their own conceit, proud, vain boasters, and exalt themselves 
even to the very vault of heaven, and boast that through the 
power which they act, (the devil's,) they would pluck even 
God himself from his throne, if they could; it is something 
that they recollect themselves a little and make this proviso. 
Yes verily, but you will not succeed; you have seen lying 
visions and they shall avail you nothing; but I say if ye will 
not repent, but become more filthy and stiff-necked, then like 
serpents "hide yourselves in the clefts of the rocks and in 
the tops of the rugged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for 
the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly 
the earth." Probably ye might thus escape so as to live on 
the earth although dead, a little while longer, and know good 
between one another; (even good which ye esteem preferable 
to that from above;) but surely at the general destruction on 
the last day, when worlds shall be crushed and hurled to 
atoms; nations be destroyed; churches obliterated; the earth 
in a conflagration, and the very heavens passing away, rolled 
together as a scroll; ye cannot escape by hiding in the dens 
and caverns of the rocks and calling on the mountains to fall 
upon you. No! my hearers, there are but few clefts that will 
then avail, and those only who were wise and sought shelter 
there betimes; these are the clefts of the Rock of Ages. He, 
the ever blessed Jesus, will himself preside as judge, therefore 
we who heard and believe his words to do them, to the sa- 
ving of our souls, to the being found in him, through faith 



32 ON FAITH. 

which worketh by love, shall live with our blessed Father 
and King, God and Saviour, and the holy angels, in the new 
heaven and earth forever and ever. And you who would 
have none of his holiness, from whom cometh every good 
and perfect gift, the blessedness of heaven on earth, with a 
certain promise of a final heaven through all eternity, but 
would have your good, as you esteemed it, among yourselves 
and the devils, you shall also now be cast into the lake which 
burneth with fire and brimstone, where there shall be weep- 
ing and wailing and gnashing of teeth, prepared for the dev- 
il, your father, and his angels, your brethren, and ye shall be 
tormented through the endless ages of eternity. 

Now that you are yet this side of that gulph of despair, 
and as a nation, have your heads above water, (or brimstone,) 
humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God 5 
the words of Christ, which shall judge every one of you 
on the last day. 1 address you individually and collec- 
tively — 1 say again, have faith in Christ and his words, to 
do them, to the saving of your souls; have faith and lay hold 
on the Omnipotent Arm of Jehovah and make your peace 
with him. Let every one of you consider and weigh this 
matter seriously, and then conclude whether ye had not 
better repent, believe the gospel and live holy and godly lives. 
The doings of every one of you contribute to make up the 
sum total of this nation, whether of righteousness or wicked- 
ness; righteousness exalteth a nation, but wickedness and 
iniquity degradeth it, and is the cause of every evil and des- 
truction at last. And therefore, why continue in this dread- 
ful course of rebellion ? why not much rather repent one and 
all, and be at peace with an offended God; and should you 
even hold out as a nation a few years longer, hear the 
words and believe, " It is given unto all men once to die and 
after that the judgment. 1 ' I refer you to what has been stated 
on this subject. Therefore you may put away the thoughts 
of death whenever they trouble and frighten you, but surely 
when the messenger himself arrives you cannot compromise 



ON FAITH. 33 

with him; you cannot put him off until some convenient 
time; do ye not see clearly ye are dying mortals, liable to be 
turned to dust every moment, as your lives are in the hands 
of an angry God; and hear this, "the wicked shall not live out 
half their days;" and "the Lord will avenge him of his ene- 
mies." His honor must be vindicated, his justice satisfied, 
and his name glorified. 1 impress it on you again to repent, 
believe the gospel, live holy lives; if ye value your souls re- 
pent; if you value your wives and children or any thing else 
according to Godliness, repent; if you value this land, the in- 
stitutions thereof, and this nation, repent; and above all if 
ye value the joys of heaven, repent and believe the gospel, 
"for there is more joy in heaven among the holy angels of 
God, over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine 
just made perfect." And will ye not do something for the 
joy of others, particularly such lovely beings, and at the same 
time be benefited so greatly yourselves, be such infinite gain- 
ers as to be reinstated to the favor and exalted to the holy 
image of our blessed Jehovah; and then the sweet peace which 
ye shall have which passeth all understanding, which the 
world cannot give nor take away, and which shall endure 
and increase in heaven forevermore. 

If ye thus turn unto God through faith in our blessed Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ, and put on the new man of holiness, 
show respect and reverence to the Deity, he will return unto 
you and honor you, and "set you on high because ye know 
his name;" and ye shall have trus peace, joy, and happiness, 
for out of God it is not to be found; this I know by experience, 
and many holy men have testified to the same before me, 
even Solomon, the wisest of men, after having indulged him- 
self in the pleasures of the table, wine and women, horses 
and chariots, building of cities, and many other things to di- 
vert the mind; 1 say, after having experimented upon, and 
proved the efficacy of almost every thing under the Sun to 
aid the increase of his happiness, he returns to God and 
declares, that all that is contrary to a life of godliness is but 

5 



$4 ON FAITH. 

vanity and vexation of spirit, and that to " Fear God and 
keep his commandments, is the whole duty of man. 1 ' " Kor 
God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret 
thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." [Excles\ 
last chapter ] And since then, my dear readers, how many 
individuals, how many hundreds of persons that have lived 
m sin and iniquity, have sought in a career of criminal in- 
dulgences, peace and comfort for their poor souls, but that 
were never able to obtain rest for their troubled spirits, until 
they found it at the foot of the cross, until through the atone- 
ment of Jesus, through faith in the Lamb of God and his 
blood, they were purified from all "fifrmness of flesh and 
spirit;" were born again, renovated and thoroughly regener- 
ated, enabled to lay off the old man of sin, and put on the 
new man of righteousness and holiness^ became freely jus- 
tified and sanctified through faith in Him who, through His 
boundless love to degraded man, became emphatically the 
propitiation for the ssns of the world, that the blessed God 
''•might be just and the justiner of him that beMevethin Jesus." 
Thus thousands were through the forbearance, goodness and 
mercy of God, and through our blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ,, 
reinstated to favor and the holy Image of our Heavenly 
Father, became sons by adoption, and heirs of glory; even 
joint heirs with Christ himself of inheritances incorruptible? 
undefined, and that never, no never fade away; eternal in the 
heavens. Thus these peculiar, excentric, as the blind world 
calls christians, people were endued from on high with the 
blessings of salvation; love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, 
that peace that passeth all understanding, which is not to 
be found in the world; which the carnal man is a stranger to, 
and which confounds the worldly-wise in their wisdom, and 
the fools in their vain imaginations, particularly those who 
say in their hearts "There is no God." 

These holy champions of the cross, comprising a holy na* 
tion, within many nations; a royal priesthood, zealous of 
good works, to glorify God their Saviour and King, and to 



ON FAITH. 35 

benefit their fellow beings sojourning in this vale of tears, on 
the brink of eternity. They were therefore, emphatically 
the salt of the earth, the excellent of the earth, the lights of 
the world, and in their glory was manifest the image of Je- 
hovah, and the world could take knowledge that they had 
been with Jesus, for none can impart wisdom and every 
grace like He, neither did they love their lives, but rather 
hated them for Christ's sake, so that they might keep them 
throughout the endless ages of eternity. 

They were decided heroes under the Lord of Hosts — 
uncompromising patriots for the truth, who nobly stood in 
the most exalted cause and fought manfully under the ban- 
ner of their King; permitted their blood to flow in purple 
streams for His glory, and the cause of truth, and their fellow 
beings' eternal welfare, and to confound the powers of dark- 
ness and hell; they could depart rejoicing, and some could 
triumphantly sing in the heat of the battle, with the apostle 
could say, u for them to live was Christ, and to die was gain," 
and that they would rather be absent from the body and 
present with the Lord, they being filled with the blessedness 
of heaven, could contribute to the glory of their Maker and 
Saviour, and the establishment of the true Church of Christ, 
vital Christianity upon the earth; and to depart like men and 
not as fools die. 

All ages have been thus blessed by the Most High, have 
had some of these constellations sojourning among them, to 
illuminate the dark places of the earth; who in the wisdom 
and love of God through the salvation of Jesus, were as lights, 
as beacons to the wayfaring man, to the wanderers out of 
Sion, to direct their steps into the path of holiness by urging 
them to repentance and admonishing them to believe in Jesus 
for the salvation of their immortal souls. Consequently the 
true church, the church of Christ, flourished to a greater or 
less degree during every period from the foundation of the 
world, and the blessed Lord had a people with whom his 
honor dwelled, with whom his name abided; who were a joy, 



36 ON FAITH. 

a praise, and a glory to Him, and contributed to the joy of 
the holy hosts of heaven; the glorious angels are not ashamed 
to own the followers of Christ as their brethren, nor think 
themselves degraded by administering unto us, according to 
the will and commands of our Heavenly Father. " Are 
they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them 
who shall be heirs of salvation." [Heb. U 14. 

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God, 
therefore as for those that sit in u Moses' seat," their words 
are to be believed and examples imitated so far as they 
agree with the revealed will of God, with the "word and 
the testimony," and they in righteousness and holiness fol- 
low Christ. As St. Paul admonishes, "Be ye followers of 
me as I am also of Christ;" and also cautions Timothy to 
beware of men in sheep's clothing, which should abound in 
the latter days; his admonitory lessons are on this wise, "Now 
the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some 
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits? 
and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having 
their conscience seared with an hot iron." And further, 
" This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall 
come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covet- 
ous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, 
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are 
good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more 
than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying 
the power thereof; from such turn away." 

[1st. & 2d. Timothy. 

After all this estrangement and departure from the living 
God, yet at the coming of the blessed Christ "will he find faith 
on the earth." However small the number may be, yet 
there will be some who will be the holy temples of Christ 
and watch unto the coming of the Lord and desire the King 
of heaven and earth to descend; " Even so come Lord Jesus." 
Do not these times indicate that the period is near at hand, 



ON FAITH. 37 

when all the wicked shall be destroyed from the face of the 
earth, and "all the nations that forget God be turned into 
hell." Repent, repent, repent, therefore, for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand; repent and have faith in Jesus; hear the 
words of the Lord to your edification and immortal souls sal- 
vation; manifest your love and obedience by keeping the 
commandments of God, and walking with him unblameably, 
in holiness; for without holiness none shall ever behold his 
glorious majesty, or enter into his eternal kingdom of glory. 
May many yet in the eleventh hour, find remission of sins 
through the merits of Jesus; be justified and sanctified by the 
blessed God; through the Holy Ghost, become meet to be 
made partakers of the inheritances of the Saints in light, and 
to have their joy and rejoicing with God and his holy angels 
forevermore. Now unto the Triune Father, be endless 
praise, thanks and blessings, dominion, majesty and power. 
Amen and Amen. 



DISCOURSE III. 

THE GLORY OF GOD. 

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from 

heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it 

again. 

John, 12th Chap. 2Bth verse. 

The preceding words of our text our blessed Lora spake 
some time after his ministry, soon after Mary anointed his 
feet, and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, welcomed and 
escorted by hosts of his saints and followers, who spread 
their garments in the way, crying Hosanna! Hosanna!! — 
Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of 
the Lord. Glory to God in the highest. 

Aware of being near the end of his mission, when the 
great object should be accomplished for which our blessed 
Lord was -made manifest in the flesh, suffered shame, per- 
secution and distress, a man of sorrow and acquainted with 
grief, who had committed no sin, neither was guile found in 
his mouth, but for the glory of God and the salvation of sin- 
ful men, had left his high and glorious abode to sojourn on 
this distorted earthly ball, subject to heat and cold, earth- 
quakes, storms and tempests, with no certain dwelling place 
here below, and no place where to lay his devoted head; 
hear himself on the subject: " The foxes have holes, and the 
birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not 
where to lay his head." Which deprivation he endured 
without a murmur, although his soul was frequently in 
trouble, as we see in the preceding verse and elsewhere, for 
God had laid upon him the iniquity of us all, from the begin- 
ning of the world to the end of time, that none might be lost, 
but that all might obtain a knowledge of salvation through 
his obedience. 



THE GLORY OF GOD. 39 

While the Eternal Father was looking abroad upon the 
sons of men, and unable to discover any o;ie with whom to 
entrust this mighty woYk of redemption, lo! the Saviour 
said, " I come to do thy will, O God ;" and in due time 
through the wisdom of the all-wise and ever blessed God, 
became incarnate, when the sons of light again shouted for 
joy and sang " Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace 
and to men good will." And he grew up in wisdom and 
-stature, and became emphatically the Prince of Peace and 
the Saviour of the world. For at the age of twelve he began 
to persuade men to leave their folly and endeavored to turn 
the ignorant to the wisdom of the just. 

Behold him with his holy band of twelve devoted cham- 
pions, traversing deserts and through forests, wandering to 
reclaim the lost sheep of the house of Israel and collect them 
into his told; and when thousands upon thousands were 
gathered together to hear his Angelic voice in strains celes- 
tial meander through the dense multitude in sweetest, ac- 
cents of love and sympathy for the weal of their immortal 
souls; and then when the blind, through his virtue, received 
their sight, the broken and lame were made whole, the deaf 
restored, the devils cast out, and the sick healed, the toils of 
several days ministration nearly over, he commanded the 
fatigued multitude to be seated in companies upon the green 
grass, he took a few loaves and two fishes, blessed and 
brake and had them distributed through this vast congre- 
gation, miraculously multiplying it until all were filled and 
baskets full of fragments remained; many were convinced 
of their unbelief, and constrained to exclaim, u Emmanuel, 
God with us." 

Thus the Lord of life and glory went abroad doing good 
and ministering unto dying men, in a humifrtating way, as 
a servant among servants. O boundless love!! O the depth 
both of the riches and grace of God, his ways are past find- 
ing out. Truly he is every where in his glory, through 
faeaven, air, earth and oceans all, and when the tempest 



40 THE GLORY OF GOD. 

howls and the sea roars, threatening death and destruction 
to puny man, with the few words, "peace, be still," he stays 
the storm and calms the sea; the winds steal away and the 
waves which raged furiously, crouch beneath his feet, and all 
is still. The same he effects in the repenting sinner against 
the devil's work in his soul, when he foams and rages furi- 
ously, he casts him out and a sweet calm ensues, with joy 
unspeakable and fuil of glory, with thanks and blessings to 
God the Prince of Peace. Thus the works of the devil are 
destroyed and the Lord God is glorified. 

The whole career of our blessed Saviour on earth re- 
dounded to the glory of his heavenly Father and the welfare 
of human kind and also to the brute creation, for as men be- 
come civilized, truly refined and exalted in holiness, they 
are more merciful, because the blessed Christ inculcates 
mercy, " be ye merciful as your Father in heaven is merci- 
ful; 1 ' by consequence every living thing about a true christian 
will fare the better, and thanks be to the Lord for it; for 
where is the difference between savages, and even some mis- 
called christians, and the wild beasts, unless it be on the side 
of the latter, who scarcely ever destroy one another until 
compelled by hunger. But not so with those whose hearts are 
the habitation of devils, even legions of foul spirits, thirsting 
for blood r whose cravings are never satisfied, tormenting and 
inventing torments for their fellow beings that are not of their 
abominable caste ; even their accomplices are not permitted 
to escape, but they tear each other as dog?-, with hellish 
malice full ; and then the innocent brutes will, at times, be 
made partakers of their cruel mercies ; surely there is no 
peace for the wicked, as declared in holy writ. They know 
not the Prince of Peace who dwells in the sons of light, and 
causes all things to contribute to their happiness for time and 
eternity; but are full of the evil one, whom Christ came to 
biuise and destroy, and whom he bound in chains until the 
) merit of the great day, when the wrath of God will be 
revealed against him and his ungodly foliowers to doom 



THE GLORY OF GOD. 41 

them to misery and torments, to blackness and darkness 
forever. 

As the ambassador of the high and holy God, I call upon 
you through these pages, to make your peace with him ; to 
be reconciled at the foot of the cross, through faith in Jesus 
and his precious blood, which cleanses from all sin, and 
which is yet offered as a purifier of the affections and lusts 
of the flesh; all vile, unholy propensities ever at variance 
with godliness, and the life of God in the soul, for the carnal 
mind is at enmity with God, therefore cast ye out this bond- 
man with all his filthiness and take in the fee ; be con- 
verted, justified through faith in Jesus; persevere in prayer 
to our heavenly Father through Jesus our Mediator, that ye 
be sanctified and established in holiness, and may glorify God 
in your souls and bodies, for they of right are his. 

Every follower of Christ will thus contribute to the glory 
of our Holy Father, whom Christ came to glorify, and did 
glorify in all his ways, among the children of men, as Jeho- 
vah himself testified in our text, and that he would glorify 
his name again; alluding, doubtless, to the further progress 
and final triumph of our blessed Saviour's passion. 

That to him belongeth all glory who is himself all glorious, 
dwelling in transcendent glory, and being the King of Glory, 
none of an enlightened understanding will, we presume, dare 
to deny. O the mobt excellent glory, from whence cometh 
every good and perfect gift ; every thing lovely, amiable and 
delightful, for God is love, and they that dwell in God dwell 
in love ; in love unspeakable and full of glory, being the tem- 
ple of the Holy Ghost, the comforter who instils into the 
soul joys celestial and full of bliss; joys of Angels surround- 
ing the glorious throne of the Majesty on High, to be par- 
takers with them of the happiness of heaven while pilgrims 
yet on earth ; thus Christ has glorified the name of Jehovah, 
and in his saints he is glorified. 

The voice 1 have glorified and will glorify it again, came 
from the same holy source as that heard by his devoted 



42 THE GLORY OF GOD. 

disciples, when visited by Moses and Elijah in glorious 
chariots from the celestial regions, and the blessed Jesus was 
transfigured and the holy trio shone in heaven's resplendent 
glory. Will unbelievers still continue contrary and deny 
that this was the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Sa- 
viour of the world, and not hear him and believe in him as 
all are commanded, to the saving of their immortal souls ; 
for verily, there is no other name given whereby they can be 
made partakers of the joys of Angels in heaven ; to inherit 
with the saints, the mansions which he has prepared on high 
for all that love him, and who anxiously watch unto prayer 
unto his return. O! will ye forfeit the joys of heaven for 
those on earth, which are no joys at all, for the wretched- 
ness and misery attendant even in this life, of carnal desires 
gratified, far over-balance the joy they afford ; and then the 
dread of an eternity of banishment from every thing glorious 
and holy, to a place of darkness, torment and despair, which 
must inevitably be the burden of every soul alienated from a 
life of holiness and godliness, unless given over to hardness 
of heart and reprobateness of mind, which is infinitely worse, 
to be able to commit the most filthy and horrid crimes with- 
out repugnance of conscience. 

O what a magnificent and glorious place heaven is, the 
New Jerusalem, Paradise, where the Holy God is enthroned 
in effulgent glory, surrounded by innumerable hosts of Arch- 
Angels and Angels, Cherubims and Seraphims, and Saints in 
white, who are ever singing, Holy I Holy!! Holy!!! Lord 
God Almighty, who wast and art, and art to come, thou King 
of Saints. " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath 
it entered into the heart of man to conceive the joys there 
prepared for those that love him." Now we see him with 
a veil between, but then face to face, as he is, so shall we see 
the blessed God, enjoy him and commune with him with 
greater pleasure and closer intimacy than even Moses did, 
because all human and worldly thoughts and cares will be 
banished from our souls, and we shall be exalted and be like 



THE GLORY OF GOD. 43 

unto the Angels, glorious and holy, reflecting the splendour 
of our Eternal Father. If Moses face shone, reflecting the 
glory of the Deity, after having been only forty days and 
nights with God on the Mount, so that the children of Israel 
could not behold his face without a veil between, O! how 
much greater must have been the luster and glory of th& 
transfiguration of our blessed Saviour on the Mount, having 
this same Moses who had been for thousands of years in 
the presence of the Majesty on High, serving God in his 
Holy Temple, on the one side, and the indefatigable, holy 
and faithful Elijah, who walked with God until it pleased the 
Lord to end his ministration and send his chariot and horses 
of fire, all glorious as the resplendent sun, to convey him to 
the court of his Eternal Holiness, where he has been exalted 
for hundreds of years on the other side. O ! what a trio of 
luminaries, even obscuring the Sun in his meridian splendor. 
No wonder then that this combination of glory would over- 
power and cause the three favorite disciples, although divine- 
ly taught, but inhabiting earthly forms, to fall prostrate to 
the ground. 

Thus have we been trying to present to your minds a 
glimpse of the beatific glory of the Majesty on High, where 
none can enter without holiness, for the King who reigns 
there Omnipotent in power, commands, " be ye Holy as I 
am Holy," and swears in his wrath that none other shall enter 
into his rest. It is therefore, absolutely necessary to be 
inured in a life of godliness to be partakers of the bliss of 
Angels, which shall never retrograde but progpess through 
endless ages ; as so limited a degree of glory as shone in the 
face of Moses, or even at the transfiguration on the Mount 
was overpowering ; how much more would the perfection 
thereof in the courts of God be to the carnal and earthly 
minded, who never through faith in Jesus beheld through a 
veil his glory, nor been exercised in the paths of virtue and 
holiness, but been all their lives averse thereunto, hating 
God and serving the devil ; dishonoring their creator and 



44 THE GLORY OF GOD. 

bountiful benefactor instead of contributing to his glory; 
they shall never enter into his kingdom without being regen- 
erated, for our God, to all such is a consuming fire. 

"1 will glorify it again;"" alluding no doubt to our blessed 
Lord's passion in Gethsemane and triumph on Calvary, as 
the name of the Father had been glorified hitherto by the 
humble and obedient course of our blessed Saviour ; his 
victory when permitted to be tempted by satan ; the mira- 
cles he wrought by the power of God, upon the souls and 
bodies of men ; surely the spirit of God was in an abundant 
degree upon him, to preach the gospel to the poor, cheer the 
broken-hearted and set the captives free, and break every 
band of the devil which held them in misery and wretched- 
ness, and fear and torment ; the torment of death and the 
fear to appear before a just and offended Judge, and of hav- 
ing to meet their doom in hell, where there is no rest, but 
despair and torment forever and ever. Beware all ye sin- 
ners how ye mispend in the service of satan, the time allot- 
ted you here ; to the dishonor of God and the neglect of 
your soul's salvation, for verily there is a day of retribution 
near at hand to every one of you ; may your blood be upon 
your own heads if you continue in your sinful course of 
wickedness ; disregard the warning voice of Christ and his 
true embassadors, and die in your sins, when you should 
have worked out your souls salvation through Jesus the 
Redeemer, the author and finisher of faith ; who has glori- 
fied God through obedience to death, even the death of the 
cross, to achieve salvation for sinful creatures — but you do 
despite and dishonor his holy spirit by your apostate lives : 
O why will ye die, ye wretched sinners. 

The name of the glorious and holy God will again be glo- 
rified at the utter destruction of the works of the devil, when 
the old beast will be chained and cast into hell and all his 
followers with him, to their dismay and confusion, and 
gnashing of teeth forever; and when King Jesus will take 



THE GLORY OF GOD. 45 

the kingdom to himself, descend with the New Jerusalem, 
and reign with his holy saints on earth a thousand years. 

Finally, when the blessed God will judge the earth by that 
man whom he has ordained; when the Son of Man shall 
come in his glory and all the Holy Angels with Him, then 
shall he sit upon the throne of His Glory. And before Him 
shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them 
one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the 
goats ; and He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the 
goats on the left. For the fearful, and unbelieving, and the 
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, 
and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth 
with fire and brimstone. Then shall the King say unto 
them on his right hand, come ye blessed of My Father, in- 
herit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world, and we shall inherit the New Heaven and Earth, 
and Glorify God for ever and ever. Amen. 



DISCOURSE IV. 

CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 

And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the 

Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him. 
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took 

counsel to stay them. 

[Acts, 5th chap., 32d &f 33d. verse. 

Our blessed Saviour did not sojourn on earth in dark or 
obscure places, as infidels would have us believe; yea they 
would even have us deny that there ever was such a person 
as the Son of God; who left his father's throne to be born of 
a Virgin, rocked in a cradle, sheltered from the dampness of 
the season by the roof of a stable at a common Inn. It is 
scarcely to be wondered at, by viewing the folly of the world 
through all ages down to this present time, which has ever 
been inflated with vanity and pride, indulging in luxuries of 
all description, as at this day, that many would thus conjec- 
ture, and aid in the delusion of their souls by their greatest 
enemy, contrary to the prophecy of an infinitely wise and 
holy God, who saw proper and was graciously pleased thus 
to ordain, and in due time to fulfil his revelation in the above 
described manner. Thou Bethlehem though least among 
the thousands of Judea, yet out of thee shall the sceptre 
arise. Hundreds and thousands knew the predictions of our 
Lord's coming, and there was a general expectation at. the 
time the Morning Star arose in Bethlehem, to enlighten 
them that sit in darkness and give glory to hi3 church. 

Holy Simeon testified that he was the Lord's Christ, when 
he prayed that he might now depart in peace, for says he "I 
have seen thy salvation." It was revealed unto him that 
he should remain until his eyes were thus blessed. Anna 
the prophetess, likewise testified and spake of him to all 
that looked for redemption in Israel. These were under 



CHRIST'S WITNESSES 47 

the influence of the Holy Ghost, as recorded in our text, as 
well as those preceeding who walked with God, in love and 
obedience, and who saw the glory of the only begotten of 
the Father afar off; and rejoiced in the light of the glory of 
the Sun of Righteousness, which was to illuminate the earth 
in a future day. Through him they ended their course with 
joy, and departed to be with him whom their souls loved. 

It does therefore fully appear that the blessed Jesus was not 
without witnesses from almost the beginning of the world, 
until his manifestation in the flesh. The career of his 
apostles from thence to the present time, nor shall be to the 
consummation of all things, and his coming to judge the 
world in righteousness, — " many shall wax cold, and fall off 
yet at the coming of the Son of Man shall he find faith on 
the earth." From these words we infer that he will always 
have a name on the earth— a church — a few followers and 
true witnesses, however corrupt the rest of mankind may be; 
yea, they shall even be as at the time of Noah, and the des- 
truction of Sodom and Gomorrah. My readers, ye can dis- 
cern the face of the sky, can ye discern the signs of these 
present times? 

The apostles from an humble occupation, were chosen to 
be initiated and instructed, to walk with their Lord in the 
same path of holiness, yet not with the same mountain's 
burden as the iniquity of the whole world presents to our 
view, upon their souls. Jesus was truly the Lamb of God; 
an offering for sinners in one sense of the word, yet not to 
the extent of the Universalist's creed — good, bad and indif- 
erent, to live with him through eternity; a miscellaneous, and 
congruous mass, like unto the one which he came to purify 
and sift; the wheat to be gathered into his garner and the 
chaff to be burned with fire unquenchable. Has his word 
then fallen to the ground, or been withdrawn? Impossible! 
firm as the throne of God they remain. Hear the Saviour, 
Judge, himself, " Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but 
my words shall not pass away." 



48 CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 

These privileged men were constantly about our Lord. 
When the multitudes had been dismissed and gone to their 
homes, these were found to tarry in deserts and on mountains, 
to minister unto their master; listening to his instructive les- 
sons, and drinking deep into the fountain of holiness. They 
were acquainted with his oppression, travail and grief; the 
shame he endured, his agony in Gethsemane, and his death 
on Mount Calvary; his burial, the caution taken to prevent 
his resurrection. Notwithstanding he arose, they saw him 
after his resurrection, spake with him, received further in- 
struction from him, were confirmed in their faith, instructed 
to preach the gospel to all nations, "And lo' I am with you 
always even unto the end of the world," was the promise of 
the blessed Saviour to all his peculiar people, his true follow- 
ers. They finally accompanied and surrounded him at 
Bethany, where they received his blessing and saw him as- 
cending to heaven from out of the midst of them. With the 
assurance of his return in due time, the apostles returned to 
Jerusalem glorifying and praising God. 

They continued in prayer and watching day and night 
until pentecost was come, when they were fully ordain- 
ed by the inspiration of the Ploly Ghost, the promised com- 
forter, divine guide and instructor; speaking in different lan- 
guages, all Jesusalem was astonished; some mocked, and 
accused them of intemperance, but Peter arose with the 
eleven and boldly vindicated his honor with those of his com- 
panions, and showed from scripture that the prophecies were 
now fulfilling before their eyes, and that Christ whom they 
had crucified and slew, God had raised from the dead, for he 
would not suffer his Holy One to see corruption, but exalted 
him to his own right hand, until he would make all his foes 
his footstool. Many felt the weight of these words and be- 
came concerned about their eternal welfare, inquiring, "what 
must we do to be saved;" and many were added unto the 
church, continuing in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in 
breaking of bread and prayers; their number increased daily 



CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 49 

in consequence of their importunity and power to heal the 
sick, cause the lame to leap for joy, and to praise God. 

These holy additions to the church alarmed the powers of 
hell and darkness, which slew their master, whose words 
were now fulfilled, " If they have persecuted me, they will 
persecute you, if they have kept my sayings they will keep 
yours also. ,, So it was, they laid hands upon them and put 
them into the hold unti! the next day, when the High Priest 
with all his household were assembled, they were brought 
before them and questioned concerning the power by which 
they wrought. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, again jus- 
tified their doings, and that through Jesus of Nazareth whom 
they crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. The 
man stood whole before them; it was the impotent man that 
formerly begged at the beautiful gate of the temple, whom 
Feter and John had healed, which provoked this ado among 
the rulers and Satan their master; they however, took knowl- 
edge that the apostles had been with Jesus; they were per- 
suaded in their minds that a higher power than that belong- 
ing to man operated through them, and confessed to one 
another that they could not deny but that a notable miracle 
had been done, and that it spread no further, commanded 
them to speak to no man in the name of Jesus. The apos- 
tles departed unmindful of the threats of their enemies, to 
obey God rather than these wretched men; they triumphed 
and rejoiced in their God and Saviour, laboring with more 
seal in his vineyard and for his glory, signs and wonders 
following them. The good work of the Lord continued, so 
that it was sufficient for only the shadow of Peter to pass 
over the sick to restore them to health; this again inflamed 
with anger the High Priest and Rulers, seeing such multi- 
tudes coming from all cities, bringing their sick with them. — 
They confined the disciples in the common prison, but the 
Angel of the Lord that night delived them, and told them to 
"go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words 
of life;! 1 which they did accordingly, and were found there 

6 



50 CHRIST'S WETNESSES 

teaching in the morning by their persecutors, after having 
searched the prison house in vain for them; the captains and 
officers brought them before their superiors without violence, 
for they feared the people lest they be stoned by them — they 
were set before the council and reminded by the High Priest 
that they weie told previously not to speak in that name, and 
"behold," he exclaimed, "ye have filled Jerusalem with your 
doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." — 
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We 
ought to obey God rather than men." "The God of our 
fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and 
a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of 
sins." Here follow the words of our text, "And we are 
his witnesses of these things," &c. 

The rulers would fain have cleared themselves of the in- 
nocent blood which stained their garments and clave to their 
souls, but this was impossible; the deed was done, in mad- 
ness they had slain the Lamb of God, and were justly accu- 
sed of their crime, which cut them to the heart; "a guilty 
conscience who can bear?" They gnashed their teeth upon 
the apostles, and took counsel to slay them, thinking no 
doubt, by putting them out ol the way they would quiet the 
matter, and ease their minds of the shame and guilt which 
haunted their wretched souls; but in this rash act they were 
opposed by one Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who was of 
a more elevated spirit, who reasoned with them on the pro- 
priety of desisting from their hellish design; to refrain, and to 
let these men alone; if their work was of men it would come 
to nought, but if it was of God they could not overthrow it — 
and would put themselves in a hostile attitude, be found fight- 
ing against God; the awful and inevitable consequence which 
would be the result, if their rage continued and they murder- 
ed these men, he could easily anticipate from the justice of 
God, and the history of former times. " Touch not mire 
annointed and do my children no harm, saith the Lord." 



CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 51 

Surely the wicked cannot stand against God, for he will turn 
them with all the nations that forget him into hell; or can 
they really fight against him who is Omnipotent? can they 
thunder with a voice like his? can they invent torments like 
those he has prepared for his enemies? are they versed in 
destruction? He who sitteth in the heavens, the High and 
Holy One who inhabiteth eternity, laugheth them to scorn; 
yea the Lord of Hosts holdeth them in derision. 

God, however, permitted them to abuse his disciples fur- 
ther ; after hearing Gamaliel, they agreed among themselves 
to beat, the apostles and charge them henceforth not to speak 
in the name of the Lord Jesus; which they accordingly did, 
and then suffered them to depart. The disciples hastened 
out from among them rejoicing that they were accounted 
worthy to suffer shame and be persecuted for Christ's name; 
doubtless remembering his words, "great shall be your re- 
ward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets that were 
before you." And probably, " Be not afraid, be not afraid 
of their terror, which is to them a sure sign of perdition, but 
to you of salvation and that of God; for to you it is not only 
given to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for his name's 
sake, so that when his glory is revealed from above ye may 
likewise rejoice with him in glory, for the spirit of Christ and 
of glory is upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, on 
your part he is glorified." 

These gracious words must have been a sweet balm and 
at the same time a powerful stimulous to remain faithful and 
devoted followers of their master, and obey him rather than 
men; for we are informed that straightway they were again in 
the temple teaching the people, and preaching Jesus Christ 
with increased zeal, for the glory of him whom they delighted 
to serve and honor, and for the welfare of their fellow beings. 
They extended their mission from house to house; taught, 
preached, and alleviated the miserable and wretched; healed 
their souls and bodies in the name of the Lord Jesus. The 
church increased and believers were multiplied; hundreds 



52 CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 

and thousands rejoiced in the knowledge of the remission 
of their sins, of being born again, of having the witness of 
the Holy Spirit to testify with their spirits that they were 
sons and heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, and could 
bear indubitable testimony of the salvation which is through 
him, and also that Christ was he which was to come, the 
Messiah. That God had raised him from the dead and ex- 
alted him to his right hand a Prince and a Saviour, to give 
repentance and forgiveness of sins; now the word of the 
Lord had free course and was glorified. The enemies of the 
cross being somewhat conquered, the saints went on their 
way rejoicing, this was but a momentary respite; he who 
was cast out from the presence of the Holy God, the prince 
of darkness, could not suffer his children to remain inactive, 
for verily the word of God is against them. " There is no 
rest for the wicked, 1 ' saith our God. Still the children of 
light, the followers of the Prince of Peace, had abundance 
of peace amid sufferings and persecutions: read the words of 
the Lord, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me 
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, 
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." But for 
the children of darkness there is no peace even in the world, 
which they take for their portion; while permitted to creep on 
the dunghill of iniquity, commit all lewdness and abomina- 
tion with greediness, to be bastards on the earth and a stink 
in the nose of holiness, until God's mercy is exhausted, jus" 
tice vindicated, and his judgments doom them to endless per- 
dition and misery in hell!! There is no peace for devils, or 
men which have become such. 

Rejoice therefore, lift up your heads and leap for joy, all 
ye sons of God, even in the fiery furnace of persecution, for 
your redemption draweth nigh; when ye are wading in the 
waters, when the floods come nigh your souls, be not dismay- 
ed, your God is about your path, he will uphold you with 
the right hand of his majesty, and when ye walk in the fire 
it shall not burn unto your souls, "for 1 am your God, 1 have 



CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 53 

called you by your name, ye are mine; 1 will deliver and 
honor you and ye shall glorify me." O what glorious, sweet 
and heavenly words are these! What love to poor mortals! 
What condescension, what kindness! Although cast out as 
evil-doers, and killed all the day long by our fellow-men; 
hunted as sheep by wolves, but yet not destroyed nor forsa- 
ken by our Heavenly Father; no ! now is the time he arises 
to plead our cause against our enemies, to hurl their pre- 
sumption to the ground, and make them before him as the 
chaff of the midsummer's threshing floor. O the value of 
such a friend, to stop the mouths of Lions, to beat down our 
enemies, and finally bring us into the haven of eternal rest 
and felicity. O that we could love him better, honor and 
glorify him more and more. 

My dear brethren, ye who walk in the spirit of God, being 
the temples of the Holy Ghost, be not weary in well-doing; 
keep your reins tight, that ye give not freedom to your natu- 
ral affections and passions which are lying dormant in your 
bodies, having been conquered through the captain of our 
salvation, the conqueror of devils, sin, death and hell. Be 
therefore not enticed or provoked by these powers to do evil; 
they will beset you on either hand, and when they find you 
inflexible will revile and upbraid you — disregard all these 
trifles as our brethren the apostles did; neither turn to the 
right hand nor the left, but keep straight on your way, with 
your faces Zion-ward. Be dilligent in watching, fasting, and 
above all, prayer, that ye fall not into temptation, and when 
permitted to be tempted that ye come off innocent and with 
honor, as our Lord and Master also did, who was permitted 
to be thus assaulted — and like him let not the frowns nor 
smiles of the world influence you against the discharge of 
your duty to God, and should they be even permitted to exe- 
cute their threats, ye all know what St. Paul saith, "For me 
to live is Christ and to die is gain." Be ye therefore of the 
same mind, for death is in the catalogue of the blessings of 
the saints of the Most High; every one is not privileged thus 



54 CHRIST'S WITNESSES. 

to glorify our God and Saviour and wear a martyr s crown 
in the courts above. 1 urge you finally my brethren, pray, 
pray without ceasing, pray day and night that your faith be 
confirmed and your confidence increased ; that you may 
grow in the knowledge of our blessed God, in his wisdom, 
understanding and holiness; that when it pleases him, and 
in such a manner as he may deem proper, to call you from 
this tottering world, ye may be found perfect, wanting noth- 
ing, end your course with joy, and your immortal souls be 
wafted by Holy Angels into the realms of eternal glory > 
there to join them with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all 
the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and saints of the Lamb, in 
singing praises and hallelujahs to the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, the Everlasting Triune Deity, forever and ever. 
Amen. 



BISCOTRSE V. 

THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. 
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it 
is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not 
with meats, which have not profited them that have been oc- 
cupied therein. 

Hebrews, 13th chapter, 8th Sr $th verses, 
From Everlasting to Everlasting Thou art God ; God ovet 
all and blessed forevermore ; Thou ineffable, infallible Po- 
tentate ; Thou King of King's and Lord of Lord's ; be Thou 
alone worshipped, and adored ; be Thou by Thy great name 
Jehovah feared, reverenced, and honored ; be Thou alone 
praised; be Thou praised by Thy glorious Angels in heaven 
and by their brethren, the holy saints and martyrs on the 
earth ; be Thou praised by the whole creation ; be Thou 
alone praised, O Lord ; to Thee, O God, be all the worship 
and praise forevermore. Amen. 

Jesus our blessed Redeemer, while here below, sojourning 
among creatures of the dust, who, although vile, sensual and 
develish,had under their Satanic master, clothed themselves 
in self-righteousness and a ficticious garb of holiness ; exalt- 
ed themselves above all that was of God or Godly, were 
consequently dreadfully averse to " The Lord our Right- 
eousness," and diametrically opposed to his holiness ; who 
had set up their idols in their hearts, and were under the 
influence of him who is the father of all iniquity, abomina- 
tion and crime, and who has great delight to seat himself in 
the temple of God as though he were God, aad to get fools 
to cringe to him, worship and bestow that honor upon him 
which alone belongs to the Eternal Father of life and glory, 
the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, and to- 
day, and forever. 



56 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

Yea, verily, Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the Be- 
ginning and the Ending ; He in whom all things live, move, 
and have their being; the power Omnipotent, who by His word 
spoke into being the whole universe ; the Holy of Holies, 
where his Glory is man Jest to perfection, where the Cheru- 
bims and Seraphims worship the mystic Deity in the beau- 
ties of Holiness ; in the effulgence of His Glory, veil their 
faces with their wings and cry, "Holy! Holy! I Holy!! I 
Lord God Almighty! which was, and is, and is to come; 
Great and marvelous are Thy works, just and true are thy 
ways Thou King of Saints;" Hosanna! Hosanna!! Halle- 
lujah!!! Hallelujah!!! Amen, Amen; " Blessing, and glory, 
and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and 
might, be unto our God, forever and ever. Amen! Amen I! 

" Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and Glorify Thy 
name? for Thou only art Holy : for all nations shall come 
and worship before Thee ; for Thy judgments are made man- 
ifest.'' "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! Salvation, and glory, and 
honor, and power, unto the Lord our God," forever and ever. 
Amen; Hallelujah! Amen!! Amen!!! Amen!!!! 

And when Jesus, the Everlasting Father said, "let there 
be light," the resplendant sun stept into the firmanent, all 
glorious in appearance, reflecting partially, the Creator's 
Glory, followed by the milder moon, comets, planets and 
stars innumerable, all contributing to their Maker's praise: 

God, all-wise, great and infinite, 

We behold Thee on Thy glor'ous throne, 

The Sun, thy great representative, 
Traverses the serial doome, 

Diffuses a gold'n bloom, 

Drives on the nightly gloom. 

The moon leads on the nocturn'l van. 

Planets and comets, all display, 
The eth'real, esriel fan, 

And circumvolving, sing Thy lay; 
The stars, the chorus array, 
Sweetly thro' the milky way- 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 57 

The train passes thro' the Heaven; 

'Gain the golden orb comes in glory, 
Darkness from the earth is driven, 

All nature live and adore Thee, 
In fragrant gloom and beauty, 
And songs and melody. 

The earth also, which we inhabit, was created of nothing 
by His Almighty power; the mountains and the oceans ; the 
hills and the rivers; the rocks and the limped streams; the 
vast treasures of gold and silver, and of other minerals, &c. 
&c. All living creatures moving thereupon, the blessed 
God created of the dust, and imparted life temporal, and to 
man eternal, to whom he conferred dominion over all the 
other animals, reptiles, and creeping things, in all the waters 
and moving on the face of all the earth. " For by him were 
all things created that are in heaven, and that are on earth, 
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, 
or principalities, or powers ; all things were created by him, 
and for him ; and he is before all things, and by him all 
things consist." Christ is therefore, the true and ever living 
God, who upholds the universe by the word of his power; 
the Father of light, from whom comes every good and per- 
fect gift, and with whom there is no variableness, neither 
shadow of turning, "Who is the same yesterday, and to-days 
and forever." 

Jesus Christ, the mysterious, the Eternal 1 AM, the won- 
derful, Councellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, 
the Prince of Peace, the self-existing Jehovah, who weigh- 
eth the hills in a balance and the mountains in scales — who 
comprehendeth the dust of the earth in a measure, and me- 
teth out the heavens with a span, and the waters in the hollow 
of his hand — who stretcheth out the north over the empty 
place and hangs the earth upon nothing — who sets bounds 
to the sea, saying, " thus far shall thy waters rage, and here 
thy proud waves be stayed." " Before whom all nations 
are as dust, the small dust of the balance ; they are even 
lighter than vanity, and are as nothing before Him." Christ 



58 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

is the Lord of Hosts and the God of battles; and woe be to 
them that strive with Him, and woe be to all nations that 
disregard his smiles and his frowns, and depart from his 
counsel, and that put away the fear of Him from before their 
eyes ; that set up the stumbling block of iniquity in their 
hearts; that go a whoring after strange gods; that have 
their pleasure in serving the devil in all manner of abom- 
inations, pride, vain glory and worldly ambition, murders, 
adulteries, fornications, witch-crafts, and all manner of filthy 
lewdness, and have the impudence to glory in their shame, as 
though there was no heaven of holiness nor Holy God in all 
the universe. 5 Dearth! earth!.! earth!!! hear the word of the 
Lord, " I, Jehovah, 1 am the Lord God, I am Holy, the high 
and lofty one who inhabits eternity, and there is no God else 
besides me ; a just God and a Saviour ; there is none besides 
me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the 
earth ; for I am God, and there is none else. 1 have sworn 
by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, 
and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every 
tongue shall swear." "And my name alone shall be glorifi- 
ed." "He that believeth and is baptised, shall be saved, and 
he that believeth not shall be damned." " Turn ye, turn ye, 
for why will ye die!" " Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
but my words shall not pass away." "From dust ye are, and 
to dust ye shall return " " All flesh is as grass and the glory of 
man as the flower thereof, the grass withers, the flower thereof 
fadeth away, but the word of the Lord endureth forever." 

Emmanuel, in this character Jesus Christ sojourned upon 
earth to become the Saviour of the world, a propitiation for 
sinful men ; his God-like love was made abundantly mani- 
fest during his ministration of mercy here below, in innumer- 
able instances in Gethsemane, before Pilate, and on Mount 
Calvary, where in love to us he laid down his life, and after- 
wards took it agfain. " I have power to lay down my life, 
and 1 have power to take it again." Christ arose victorious, 
conquered the devil, all hell and darkness ; triumphed over 
all principalities and powers, overthrew them and made an 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 59 

open show of them. " Who is this that cometh from Edom 
with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in 
His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?" 
" I that speak in righteousness, Mighty to save." " Where- 
fore art thou red in thy apparel, and thy garments like him 
that treadeth in the wine fat?" " I have trodden the wine 
press alone, and of the people there was none with me ; for 
1 will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my 
fury ; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, 
and I will stain all my raiment : For the day of vengeance 
is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." "And 
I looked, and there was none to help ; and I wondered that 
there was none to uphold ; therefore, mine own arm brought 
salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me." "Jesus 
Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." 

Jesus Christ is the Rock of our Salvation, the exalted 
Prince and Saviour, who gives repentance and remission of 
sins. He all day long holds out his wounded hands and in- 
vites sinners to come to him and be saved. 

Come, O come, you all unto me, 

That weary and heavy laden are, 
I will set you forever free, 

And joys eternal you shall share. 

Take my yoke upon you all, 

And learn of me, for I am meek, 
O be obedient to my call, 

Your endless happiness I seek. 

From captivity I would fain 

Release you all, O then have faith ; 
And with me you shall ever reign, 

And see Jehovah face to face. 

In high heaven's eternal day, 

'Mid cherubims and seraphims, 
Who their holy powers display, 

In perpetual songs and hymns. 

With them exalted you shall be, 

And shme as the firmanent bright, 
Inf everlasting felicity, 

In Paradise walk with me in white. 



60 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

B This sweet invitation, breathed forth in mercy and love to 
apostate, rebellious sinners, who are all their lives held in 
chains of slavery and darkness, misery and wretchedness, 
by the devil, subject to inevitable death and eternal torment, 
if not liberated through Christ the Lord of life and Glory, 
who is mighty to save to the uttermost, all that come unto 
him, " Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, 
take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek, and 
ye shall have rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my 
burden is light." O you simple ones how long will you suf- 
fer Satan to deceive you? how long will you remain the 
slaves of sin? how long will you procrastinate with the 
time allotted you to work out your salvation? O that you 
would mend your hearts ; that you would humble your- 
selves into the dast before Christ, so that through his great 
salvation, which is alone in him, you may be exalted 
unto holiness ; for he that humbles himself shall be exalted ; 
shall find grace in the sight of God ; shall have forgiveness 
of sins ; shall be re-instated to the holy image of Jehovah, 
and finally, live with him in Eternal Glory. But not so with 
the proud, with those that harden their hearts and stiffen 
their necks ; all such the Lord knows a-far off, and visits 
them in their abominations from on high by his Omnipo- 
tence, and will bring their pride down to the dung hill, and 
themselves, with their father the devil, into hell. And alas! 
this sin, with many others, pervades this nation to an awful 
degree, and if the example of Ninevah, at the preaching of 
Jonah, is not followed, the judgments of the Most High God 
wrll sooner or later come down to the uttermost, and who 
can tell the issues of the destruction, of the extirpation, 
after Divine wrath is appeased: but O how little people are 
concerned in preventing the suspended judgments from com- 
ing down ; in preventing the vials of the wrath of Jehovah 
from being poured out to the dregs upon them. The light 
judgments which were sent in mercy to warn you to flee 
from the wrath to come, you seem to despise, and remain 
dead in trespasses and sins, and if ever the words of our 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 61 

blessed Lord, " let the dead bury the dead, 1 ' were applicable 
to any people, it is to this now — and are their hearts rent ; will 
they begin to turn in love to Go i ; in love to Him that smites 
them? alas, no! Will they then in fear cease from their 
abominations, lest his Almighty arm smites them with seve- 
rer judgments? alas! the contrary, as daily experience and 
observations show. When He intends the many judgments 
which he is sending on this land for blessings, they are a 
curse to this ungodly people, for they really seem to harden 
their hearts and stiffen their necks accordingly, and exhibit 
the rage and enmity of the old serpent, with which they deal 
so extensively and familiarly ; the handmaid to their abom- 
ination : high and low, rich and poor, are wallowing thus 
together in the mire; and should it be, therefore, any wonder 
if the holy God, who is over all blessed forevermore, should 
speedily send more and heavier judgments upon the world, 
until it becomes entirely depopulated and desolate. The land 
would then enjoy her Sabbaths ; inhale purer air, and from 
it would ascend sweeter odours to the holy God on High, 
with whom is no valuableness, neither shadow of turning, 
but who is the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. 

" Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, 
but wo! be to him that striveth with his maker." There 
may be some little reason at times in striving with one 
another, and of nations conquering one another, and of 
gaining something by the conquest, extension of territory, 
or what is worth more, freedom from oppression and liberty 
of conscience, to worship God without restraint or perse 
cution; which was the case of our forefathers, for whom 
God, by his Divine Providence, broke every foreign yoke, 
and set them free in this land flowing with milk and honey; 
that they might love Him, worship and honor him in spirit 
and in truth, and walk with him, unblamably, in holiness; 
which many, no doubt, for a time, did, and had inward peace 
and joy through faith in our God and Saviour, and success- 
fully fought, as they now had leisure, the greater battles of 



62 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

the soul with the powers of hell and darkness, and in due 
time triumphed over all their adversaries, ended their course 
with joy, and are now inheriting brighter and more lasting 
mansions in the happy Canaan above, where they can never 
be oppressed by Satan and his children, but rejoice in the 
liberty of all the Angels of God ; and this greater than sun- 
shine is, not only for a time, but an eternal day of glory. — 
Earthly things fade and decay ; men, the most honorable, 
wither as the grass, and the glory of nations disappears as 
the flowers of the field, under the displeasure and wrath 
of the Almighty ; wo ! therefore, to them that strive against 
their Maker. Where is Pharoh, Scenesherib and Nebuchad- 
nezzer ; where are their valient hosts, and where is their glo- 
ry; fallea! fallen!! are the mighty, and their glory is gone as 
the vapor from the mountain's top. And so it came to pass to 
many who since moved in earthly splendor and had a radia of 
timely glory encircling them ; they are no more : the car of 
time rolls speedily towards the verge of eternity ; others are 
now on the stage of action, but must soon pass away ; others 
ma\ again follow, but will soon disappear, as the misty clouds 
of the morning, and time will be no more: yea, the very heav- 
ens and the earth depart, but Jesus Christ endures ; he is 
the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. 

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, 
&,c. Behold! how from the very beginning Satan worked 
in his servants, telling smooth and strange things pleasing 
to flesh and blood, to please the ears of the innocent and 
unwary, and to impart his hellish doctrines. Even the very 
first pair, Adam and Eve, who were pure and holy, were 
thus assaulted by him through his servant the serpent, and 
how far he succeeded you may read in the 2d Chapter of 
Genesis; through his subtilty, the awful consequences entail- 
ed upon mankind to the latest generation ; who have ever 
sinco been groaning and travailing in pain together; and not 
only they, but the whole living creation has been and is sub- 
ject to the same, and to return together to dust again, save 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 63 

wicked, rebellious sinners, who, although endowed with 
reason, choose not only temporal, but eternal deaths in the 
error of their ways, the dreadful doom pronounced against 
all such beings in consequence of Adam's fall, in whom all 
are dead and meet for hell, until in Christ, the second Adam, 
we live and are meet for heaven. 

1 say that sinners choose death in the error of their way, 
because they believe not the words of our blessed Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ, which set life and death before them, 
but give heed to the seducing doctrines of devils, of which 
the scriptures particularly caution us to beware ; as many 
false prophets and lying spirits shall be abroad in these last 
days, which shall deceive if possible the "very elect." From 
hence we may infer that Satan, who has been powerful 
enough to deceive and ensnare multitudes of every genera- 
tion hitherto, has been permitted to replenish his force : men 
ought, also therefore, be more vigilent and zealous in the 
good cause, the cause of their own soul's salvation, through 
faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom remains 
still plentious redemption, notwithstanding the increase of 
Satan's force ; it is now only more absolutely necessary to 
listen and hold to sound doctrine, " the doctrine which was 
once delivered to the Saints;" how that Jesus Christ was 
born, lived and ministered upon earth ; was crucified, died, 
arose from the dead, ascended to heaven ; whom God has 
exalted to his own right hand a Prince and a Saviour, to 
give repentance and remission of sins. Through his death 
he has become a propitiation for the sins of the world, that 
all that believe in him should not die but live through all 
eternity; and also, that God might be just, and the justifier of 
those that believe in Jesus. 

The signs of the times show how dreadful a fabric these 
lying devils and seducing spirits have erected ; how wide 
they have extended it ; and how high they have reared it : 
they are ever busy as ants on a mole hill, and when the 
general crash takes place, language will fail to describe ; 



C4 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

and the painter's pencil to depict the thousanth part of the 
wreck of matter, and the destruction of soul's to the bottom- 
less pit. Yes, the devil has not been idle, but has been 
awfully at work through his servants, some of the principal 
ones were Voltair, Paine, and Hume, still further to diffuse 
his poison over poor fallen nature, and infuse in into the 
hearts of the weak and unwary to destroy their souls. These 
champions of infidelity, so pernicious and murderous, have, 
therefore, not merely a few disciples but millions are lulled 
asleep as respects their soul's salvation, but awake to gain 
more converts — by their smooth, flesh pleasing, but strange 
and hell securing doctrines, which together with hypocrisy, 
pervade all societies, high and low, rich and poor, and are 
without doubt, greatly the cause of the pi evading sins of this 
age, and under which this land is groaning. 

For it is a good thing that the heart be established with 
grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that 
have been occupied therein. O that ye were wise, that ye 
would seek this blessing with all your might, that your hearts 
might know salvation and be established in him from whom 
this greatest ol blessings flows; which brings sweet peace 
and holy love and joy to the soul, and fills the heart with un- 
utterable comfort and bliss, and causes it to leap with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory, and rejoice in Jesus Christ 
our God and Saviour, crying, "Abba, Abba, Father." The 
highest privilege to the christian on earth, is to know himself 
a child of God, an adopted son, and an heir of the mansions 
of bliss and glory, reserved eternal in the heavens for all them 
that love our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and 
that wait with desire his coming from above, to be glorified in 
his saints, and admired in all them that believe. " By grace 
are we saved through faith — not of works, it is the gift of 
God — lest an} man should boast." O that ye would then 
go directly to God for this blessing, that ye would seek it 
from him through a crucified Saviour, with all your might; he 
is ever willing to satiate the longing desire of a soul thirsting 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 65 

for salvation; that ye would therefore long after him as a 
hart panteth after a water brook-, that ye would be constrain- 
ed to come to him who so condescendingly invites, and in 
kindness would fain persuade you to partake of the greatest 
of blessings, without money and without price. O hear for 
your eternal well-being, his pressing invitation, " And the 
Spirit and the Bride say come. And let him that heaieth 
say come. And let him that is athirst come, and whosoever 
will let him take the water of life freely. " 

Rev. last chap., 17thver. 

Othat ye would no longer be dazzled by these foul pools 
of infidelity and inhale the miasma arising therefrom and 
wafted on the breeze by the lying spirits of darkness, to con- 
taminate your immortal souls, and cause them to die — 
" The death that never, never dies ! M 

O how dreadful and awful it is that so many pass contin- 
ually over the verge separating time from eternity, and in 
this terrible state are ushered into the presence of the Holy 
Judge. 

Equally pernicious is the result to those which are lulled 
asleep by the smooth sayings and example of those which 
feign to wear the prophet's mantel, and to administer in the 
things of God, but hate the cross of Christ and walk not in 
the paths of holiness; preaching the word of God while they 
themselves are the servants of Satan, and mislead the un- 
wary by portions of scripture to glaze over the horrid defor- 
mity of their souls and hide their iniquity; preaching peace, 
peace, when there is no peace, but a curse still suspended 
over their heads; which is the case of every one that lives in 
a carnal state, that is not reconciled unto God, that has not 
a saving interest in the atoning blood of Christ; to Christ 
therefore flee, flee immediately, flee without delay to him 
who so graciously invites you; cast yourselves at his dear 
feet, behold the blood flowing from them and his hands and 
side; implore the cleansing, the efficacious merit of that pre- 
cious blood, that ye may come forth as the infirm and lepers 

7 



66 THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. 

out of the pool of Siloam, clean, and in a sound state of re- 
ligion, salvation, and faith. Then ye will be new creatures 
in Christ Jesus, and go on your way rejoicing, and mock al 
danger nigh, saying "for us to live is Christ and to die is gain; 11 
and also triumph in death, and glorify God, and fall sweetly 
asleep in Jesus to live with him in another and a better 
world. 

Have your hearts therefore established in grace and not in 
meats, which have not profited them that have been occu- 
pied therein. No verily, the righteousness of God does not 
consist in eating, drinking and merriment, but in faith, peace 
and joy in the Holy Ghost; man does not live by hread alone 
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God- 
But "Behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing 
sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine; let us eat and drink 
for to-morrow we die." Isaiah, 23d chap. 13th verse. Bel- 
shazzarwas not spared until to-morrow, but died the self- 
same night he was feasting, and so have many others since. 
If they were not all Kings and rulers they all had immortal 
souls to be saved for heaven or doomed to hell; and may it not 
be likely from appearances — ye can discern the face of the 
sky, but can ye not as well discern the signs of the times? — 
that Mene Tekel, stand opposite this nation. Tekel applying 
to the principal rulers thereof; righteousness exalteth a 
nation, but sin and shame cause the downfall thereof; there- 
fore, while ye are not yet entirely consumed, for it will not 
take the Almighty long to do it when he brings sword, fa- 
mine and pestilence upon you — surrender yourselves to him, 
make a treaty with him, yea above all ye do or intend doing,, 
make your peace with Jehovah; exercise wisdom, be speed- 
ily at peace with the eternal God of Hosts, or else ye may 
very soon be doing but very little as a nation. Ye know how 
others have fared, down to the present, which had departed 
from the true and living God, and he is the same immutable 
— as proven in the first part of this discourse — as he was then 
so will he remain from Everlasting to Everlasting. 



THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST. G7 

"Woe to them that sit at ease in Zion, that eat the choice 
of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stalls; 
drink wine in bowls, and dance to the tabret and harp, and 
are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph!" The true church 
of Christ in this country, has been and is yet, greatly afflict- 
ed and persecuted; professors and non -professors are truly 
yoke-fellows in this work of trampling down the Lord's vine- 
yard; and none lay it to heart, or are afflicted, and therefore 
the above woe may be justly applied to them. They delight 
in the good things of this life, eating and drinking and the 
refined — as they please to call them — amusements of this age 
of degenerateness and abominations and crimes; notwith- 
standing all the outward show, which cannot stand the test 
of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire. There are none 
that really wish to come out of the world, leave off all its 
sinful amusements, and take up the yoke of Jesus and attach 
themselves to a few true, but persecuted followers of the 
Lamb. But their religion seems to consist altogether in 
hypocrisy and deception; a form of godliness while they know 
nothing of the power; and woe will be their end and eternal 
destiny, if they die thus in their sins. But ye my brethren 
who have 7 your delight in God and the beauties of holiness, 
whom he has seated in high and heavenly places in Christ 
Jesus, remain steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in 
sound doctrine, and every good work of the Loid, rejoice 
evermore, and pray without ceasing, that we be found at his 
coming, perfect, wanting nothing, and be welcomed into the 
kingdom of our Lord, to live with him and all the Holy An- 
gels and Saints, in all joy, glory, felicity and happiness, forever 
and ever. Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Immuta- 
ble, Invisible, the only wise God, be all honor and glory, 
forever and ever. Amen. 



DISCOURSE VI. 

THE LOVE OF GOD. 

If ye love me keep my commandments : 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another 

Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. 
Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive 
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know 
him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. 

[St. John, \Uh chap. 1 5th, 16th, 8f nth verses. 
These words of our blessed Lord are some of the most 
pathetic and consoling to his disciples, in the New Testa- 
ment. Indeed the whole chapter, and the two following, 
abound in affectionate promises, full of consolation to his 
sorrowing companions, his disciples whom he had just made 
acquainted with his passion, which was to separate them for 
awhile, in the interval however, the comforter should take 
his place, and also to abide forever. He was thus instructing 
them in their duty to him, and one another, and the whole 
church of God. The strains of admonitions, of persuasions, 
desires, and promises, are lovely, sweet, and most precious; 
then comes his fervent, holy, heart-strengthening and soul- 
refreshing prayer, (in the 17th chap.) for his devoted disciples 
and faithful followers, and all them that would believe on 
him through their word; in short for his true church on earth. 
This inimitable prayer, so full of heavenly love and divinity, 
and the importunity that the blessing supplicated for might 
not be withheld, but conferred upon his disciples and all true 
believers; it likewise shows how indefatigable he was in his 
exertions, and how full his soul was, yea to overflowing, to 
accomplish the work he was engaged in to perfection. "A 
man (he was God-man) will lay down his life for his friends; 
ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you."— 



THE LOVE OF GOD 69 

* If ye love me keep my commandments." 

O how sweet, how beautiful, amiable, and delightful are 
the affections when they are all congenial and harmonize in 
love; love to the Supreme being, and love to our fellow-men; 
for the very first commandment enjoins love to God and love 
to our neighbors; and surely therefore, no one can please him 
who is of a contrary disposition; who is disobedient, self-wil- 
led, full of pride, hatred, malice and revenge: these qualities 
are not of God, for God is Love, and also a consuming fire, 
to consume all such characters, if they end their probationary 
state thus, with fire unquenchable in the gulph of despair, 
provided for the devil and his angels. No my readers, these 
tempers are earthly, sensual and devilish, and the more any 
one delights and lives in these wicked passions, the more he is 
under the influence and control of Satan; and yet if he should 
say an hundred times "I love God, 11 these, his deeds, would 
cause his words to rebound and seal the lie upon him; there- 
fore also Christ saith, " If ye love me keep my command- 
ments." 

How strenuous our blessed Lord was with Peter on ac- 
count of his weakness before Pilate, by denying his master; 
he asked him thrice whether he loved him, and Peter twice 
replied, yea Lord; and the third time, " Thou knowest all 
things, thou knowest that 1 love thee." He then command- 
ed him to feed his sheep, to feed his lambs, which is likewise 
the duty of every lover of God and his neighbor, less or more, 
if not to the extent of Peter, yet in some measure as oppor* 
tunity offers, to engage in the holy cause, to lift up the hands 
that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees, through 
the power of God working in us, and convince our Lord by 
obedience, holy affections and tempers, by fruits of righte- 
ousness and godliness, that we now in reality love him, what- 
ever our misconduct and infidelity might have been previous- 
ly; that we have now become converted and have returned 
to him to serve him in holiness and righteousness all our 
days. 



70 THE LOVE OF GOD. 

" Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God, and 
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." 
u He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love."— 
[1st General Epistle of John, 4th chap., 7th &, 8th ver. 

How amiable, O how full this disciple was of that holy 
attribute of God, and all deserving of the appropriate title, 
"Beloved." His sweetness and heavenly dispositions pro- 
cured for him a place in the bosom of our blessed Lord, so 
as at meals to lean on his master's breast, while his brethren 
were not thus highly favored, although perhaps equally be- 
loved by the Lord; as we have some proof, for instance, 
Christ's charge to Peter; and in other places we are infor- 
med that God is no respecter of persons; all are accepted of 
him that love him and work righteousness, but they that hate 
him shall be lightly esteemed, because they are on the side 
of the enemy, on the side of the devil, and devils cannot love; 
consequently they are diametrically opposed to this high and 
holy attribute of the Deity, and at variance with his church 
and people. In this awful state are all unregenerate persons, 
and whatever their ideas of love and affection may be, they 
are all a lie, and so it is with all hypocrites and deceivers, as 
it is also written in this epistle, 2d chap. 4th verse : " He that 
saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a 
liar and the truth is not in him." Be ye therefore admonish- 
ed tram the same source, chapter eleventh, 8th & 9th verses: 
" Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righte- 
ousness is righteous even as he is righteous. He that com- 
mitted] sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the 
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 
that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever 
is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth 
in him, and he cannot sin, for he is born of God. In this the 
children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; 
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he 
that loveth not his brother." Prom hence we may know by 
examining ourselves whether we are born of and are in God 






' THE LOVE OF GOD. 71 

?tnd he in us: for this purpose also our blessed Saviour says, 
*' If ye love me keep my commandments." 

This thing of professing love to God, so peculiar to this 
generation, as it also was to the Phtrisees in the time of our 
blessed Saviour; but unbelief and haired to his son and his 
true followers, his annointed and peculiar people, is a total 
contradiction and gross perversion of the truth; at variance 
with and tramples under the holy deigns of Jehovah to effect 
the salvation of their souls, as they remain in their old state 
of sin and iniquity; notwithstanding the accomplishment of 
salvation on Mount Calvary, through the love and obedience 
of his son, whose blood, 1 say, is trampled upon by them and 
they crucify the son of God anew. " Saul! Saul!! why per- 
secutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." O 
that they would but behold him whom they pierced and nailed 
to the cross on Calvary, hear amid his dying groans the 
prayers ascend that his murderers might be forgiven. O that 
they would behold his bleeding hands and feet, his precious 
blood trickling to the ground and cease trampling it under; 
but use it through faith, for the purifying themselves withal, 
for his blood cjeanseth from all sins. O that they would re- 
flect that it was not for any worldly consideration that men 
could bestow upon him, for God owneth the heavens and the 
earth and the fulness thereof — nor for his own guilt that he 
came to suffer upon earth, to die on the cross, to become a 
propitiation for the sins of the world, "that God might be 
just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus. 1 ' O that 
they w T ould but be constrained and persuaded to love him 
who first loved us, and be conformed to the image of his son; 
put on the new man of love, which after him is created in 
righteousnes and true holiness, so that they might love him 
who is worthy of the love of their hearts, minds, souls, 
spirits and strength; and be free from fear and the bondage 
of the Wicked One, in which they have been kept all 
their lives; for fear hath torment, but perfect love casteth 
<©ut fear. " J^ove not the world, neither the things that are m 



72 THE LOVE OF GOD. 

the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Fath- 
er is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the 
flesh, and the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of 
the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth 
away, and the lusts thereof, but he that doeth the will of 
God abideth forever." [St. John's 1st epistie, 2d chapter.] 
If we have become perfectly loosened from the world and 
these murdering things, and have a delight in God and his 
words to do them, then the following portion of scripture 
will apply to us and will be most sweet and precious to our 
souls : " He that hath my commandments and keepetb 
them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me will be 
loved of my Father, and 1 will love him, and we will come 
unto him and make our abode with him."— Consequently 
the next portion of our text : — 

2d. And I will pray the Father and he shall give you an- 
other comforter, that he may abide with you forever: 
The time of our blessed Lord's sojourn upon earth was- 
hastening to a close; it was striding apaceto the period when 
his sufferings should be brought to an end and he be taken 
away from his dear disciples and followers, to a dearer father 
in heaven — his bowels yearned in love and compassion for 
them, while he prepared their hearts and souls to withstand 
and endure the great shock which would necessarily be given 
to their faith, and to console them he tells them that he would 
pray the Father to give them another comforter, and also 
that it was expedient for them that he did go away; for if he 
did not go away the comforter would not come unto them, 
but if he departed he would send him unto them. He thus? 
as the great physician, administered sweet balm, precious 
promises, to alleviate their sorrows and console their discon- 
solate hearts; and well knowing the persecution which they 
would meet with, he makes it known to them in language like 
to the following, — The servant is not greater than his Lord; 
if they have persecuted me they will persecute you; if they 



THE LOVE OF GOD. 73 

have kept my sayings they will keep yours also. These 
words must have had the desired effect upon the hearts of 
his disciples, that since he, their Lord and Master was per- 
secuted and reviled, and bore it with patience, it became 
them not to think too highly of themselves, to place them- 
selves above their master, but to prepare their minds in hu- 
mility to endure similar or even greater scoffs and persecu- 
tions through love to him, and for his name's sake, and the 
reward attending their obedience, to inherit the mansions 
which he was going to prepare, eternal in the heavens. 

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, proceedeth 
from the Father and the Son, moved on the face of the wa- 
ters at the foundation of the earth, and was soon to descend 
and move in the souls of the spiritual foundation of Christ's 
church, to build it up to a higher state of perfection; to excite 
the followers of Jesus to persevere in holiness, to perform 
the duties of their high and holy calling, to adorn the doc- 
trine of God their Saviour in all things; to enable them to 
rejoice on their pilgrimage among a sinful and adulterous 
generation, which were destitute of the love of God in their 
hearts, and at enmity with his high and holy purpose of sa- 
ving their souls through the atonement x>f Christ. The 
spirit of God was therefore of all importance to his disciples, 
to increase their hope and confidence, and confirm their faith 
in their Divine Master, amid this gainsaying, crooked, and 
perverse people, so that they might be as lights, shining and 
reflecting the love and glory of the Sun of Righteousness out 
of dark places, yea the dark places of the earth, where the 
beast has his habitations and workings of abomination, to 
deceive the souls of the unwary, of men, yea, the very elect 
if possible; but God in his wisdom, has erected a standard 
against the powers of darkness, in his Son, the King of 
Saints, the conqueror of sin, death, hell and the devil; thro' 
faith in him, through faith in Jesus, his saints shall overcome, 
quench every fiery dart of their enemies, and come off in 



74 THE LOVE OF GOD. 

triumph and rejoicing; and this faith which removes moun- 
tains and overcomes all opposition, is fanned into a flame by 
the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to the destruction of all the 
works of Satan in the soul, and cause it to shine with increas- 
ed luster and glory, to the honor of the King of Glory. — 
We shall now consider the last part of our discourse : — 
Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, be- 
cause it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know 
him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. 
The Holy Ghost is emphatically the spirit of truth, for 
he cometh from the God of truth, and his Son, who is the 
Way, the Truth, and the Lift*, and applies and urges the 
offers of salvation upon the soul, continues the work therein, 
by aiding to combat the lying suggestions of Satan to nullify 
his desception, by referring the soul to the truth of the scrip- 
ture, to certain texts or portions suitable for the occasion 
to bruise the serpent's head. That scripture which was also 
indited by the Almighty through his instrumentality, dwelling 
in his prophets, who spake as they were moved by him, and 
whose words therefore always bore the impress of truth, and 
have nearly all been fulfilled: for instance, the prophecies 
concerning our blessed Saviour have been chiefly fulfilled, 
that is those in the Old Testament in relation to him; and how 
many thousands have been fulfilled and are daily before our 
eyes, such as relate to sinners and their relationship to God, 
and the judgments visited upon them. How remarkable was 
his influence in the prophet Elijah and his successor Miciah 
to detect the lying spirit in four hundred men who had proph- 
ecied lies unto Ahab, and how sudden and exact were his 
words fulfilled upon the King. Abraham had much of this 
blessed spirit to confirm his faith and build him up in holiness, 
and David the Psalmist possessed him in an eminent degree, 
as his psalms abundantly testify; and Isaiah to be prompt 
with King Hezekiah in his sickness, to acquaint him with 
the will of the Lord concerning his health and prolongation 



THE LOVE OF GOD. 75 

• 

of life, and to waft on his holy pinions the soul of the p.oph- 
et to the regions of glory, to acquaint him more fully of the 
designs of God concerning his people Israel; and to present 
the same to them in language the most beautiful and sublime. 
His peculiar workings in Daniel, excite also our admiraiion. 
The interpreting of dreams, which the contrary powers were 
unable to do, and fortify him against the threats of the King; 
to obey his God rather than man— and of peculiar dreams 
which he dreamed, and visions which he beheld; the same 
with Ezra, and many others that might be named, who 
were all shining constellations in the spiritual hemisphere, 
pervaded and illuminated by the light and presence of this 
blessed spirit of Glory. 

In due time, after their master had left them, had been 
exalted a Prince and a Saviour at the right hand of the ma- 
jesty on high, the promised Comforter was sent down upon 
his disciples, and sat upon them as cloven tongues of fire; and 
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak 
with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance, [read 
Acts, 2d chapter.] which confounded the world, and induced 
them to rail upon the Apostles, as it is written they could not 
receive him, because they saw him not neither knew him; 
they knew that he was far above the spirit they were in the 
habit of seeing, and had familiarity with; therefore, they were 
enraged, and because he was from above and of godly origin, 
railed upon the disciples; some mocked, others accused them 
of drunkenness; but by the boldness of Peter, by his fearless 
language in accusing them of the murder of his Master, 
whom they slew and hung on a tree, and that God had rais- 
ed his Holy One that he should not see corruption, and seated 
him at his own right hand eternal in the heavens — and that 
through him was this shed abroad into their hearts and souls, 
the effects they saw, but could not comprehend, and no mar- 
vel, since many were utter strangers to God, and ignorant 
of the many means he makes use of to bruise Satan under 
the feet of the Saints; many however, were pricked in their 



76 THE LOVE OF GOD. 

hearts and exclaimed, u What must we do to be saved." — 
But the greater part continued in the slavery of the devil, 
their father; working, and conjuring and whoring with his 
filthy spirits, which they knew and could see, being akin to 
them; which has been one of the grossest prevailing sins of 
almost every generation from the commencement of the 
world; and of kindling the anger of God against them, and 
destroying myriads of miserable wretches from the face of 
the earth, as unworthy of the ground which bear them; to 
wit : at the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah; for the same offence, 
together with their filthy abominable lewdness, of working 
one with another, men with men, that which is a shame 
even to think of, and also using their women in the same 
way, against nature, the most hellish and disgusting crime 
for which people were ever punished; under the law of Mo- 
ses such filthy creatures were to be stoned to death, immedi- 
ately, under two witnesses. These bloody, stinking Sodom 
ites wanted even to know in that way, in preference to holy 
Lot's daughters, two Virgins — two of our, that is Christ's 
saint's brethren — two holy angels, directly from the courts 
of heaven, whom Almighty God sent to inquire particularly 
into the case of these filthy creatures, whether the report of 
their abominations was true, which had reached heaven — 
they were thus set upon by these filthy revellers, and God to 
cleanse his nostrils of these stinking beasts, sent fire and 
brimstone from heaven in the morning and consumed them 
with every thing belonging to them, from out of his sight, 
from off the face of the earth, and cursed the ground, that no 
one should walk over it and live forever. Since then one 
of the tribes of Israel was destroyed, saye a few hundred — 
for a similar ciime, when a Levite, a sojourner with his con- 
cubine, came into one of their towns to lodge, and was shel- 
tered by an humble, but God-fearing man — similar filthy 
devils in human shape, made an attack upon him at night, 
and wanted, right or wrong, lost to all decency, shame and 
fear of God this old Levite to know him, (as they termed 



THE LOVE OF GOD. 77 

it,) and could scarcely be put off by the offer of his wife or 
concubine, or even the man's daughter, a virgin, where he 
lodged; however, at last, when they found they could not 
succeed on account of a higher power in opposition to their 
puny carcasses and filthy spirits of hell, they were contented 
to take the concubine, and did take her and use her about 
town all night; in the morning she was dead, &, that in a more 
filthy and beastly way than dogs, puppies, or swine would 
have intercourse with those of their own species; which were 
never known to do against nature or be so dirty, although 
their season is but once a year — at least 1 have never heard 
or read of it; 1 believe 1 may safely defy the leaders under 
the devil, of this abomination, to show satisfactorily, that 
swine or dogs, or any other of God's animals, or creeping 
things on the face of the earth, are so infernal dirty, and 
abominably filthy; they cannot do it, I defy them before God 
and Christ, the judge before whom they must appear shortly. 
The light judgments which the Lord God sent upon the earth 
from time to time, only excited the hatred and malice of men 
and caused them, if possible, to be more dirty and abomina- 
ble, more filthy in his nose, and caused the land to mourn on 
account of their stink, their abusing each others bodies, — 
he-dog with he-dog. Undoubtedly they were, and still are, 
those doing so, the very swine and dogs mentioned in our 
Lord, the Judge's sermon on the Mount, because they tram- 
ple his blood and the holy things under, and have the beast's 
mark upon their foreheads; and therefore, no wonder they 
know not Christ nor his blessed spirit, dwelling in his saints, 
of whom, thank God my Saviour, 1 am one; and should 1 be 
the only one in this wicked nation, (as some of them at times 
intimate) despised and persecuted — as also my master was, 
by the powers of darkness and hell — for his righteousness 
and holy name's sake, they may know, (if it affords them any 
comfort,) that 1 shall remain firm and faithful to my Lord 
and Master, and as heretofore, yea even to a greater degree, 
rejoice in him, serve him in holiness and righteousness all my 



78 THE LOVE OF GOD. 

days here on earth, and then in heaven 1 will do it to still 
greater perfection forever and ever, where no devil and such 
filthy creatures combined, can vex the saints of the Most 
High by their cursed filthiness; and may this also confirm 
my brethren, they that follow Christ in holiness, if there are 
any such, that when these rebellious creatures say unto them 
"S- ek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards 
that peep and that mutter." They may answer, "should 
not a people seek unto their God for the living to the dead. ,, 
[Isaiah, 8th chap. 1 9th verse.] They may also bring to their 
minds the parts above and hundreds of others, of the des- 
truction of such characters, if it will afford them any com- 
fort, since they seem to thirst after hell, to become as clung 
upon the earth. This and every other nation, proud and up- 
lifted as they are, shall be*brought down to the ground — i* 
they continue in abominable idolatry, sorcery, &c. — they 
shall ail be brought even into hell, where there is wailing and 
gnashing of teeih forever and ever; without any thing to eat 
or drink, or cool the scorched blasphemous tongues of her 
inmates, where there is no rest day nor night, no Sabbath to 
pollute by their wickedness, but where the devil and all his 
filthy legions have their polluted, bloody carcasses and souls 
tormented with fire and brimstone forever and ever; they will 
there receive due reward for their stinking like dung in Christ's 
and his saint's noses, and delighting in their filthiness. Be- 
ware my brethren that ye partake not of their sins; let our 
hands be clean, let their blood be upon their own heads that 
we come not with them into that place of torment. We 
know in whom we believe, and we know his spirit also which 
keepeth our hearts in that peace which passeth all under, 
standing, which the world cannot give nor take from us, and 
which shall endure and increase in heaven forevermore. Be 
not deceived by these lying and conjuring spirits of devils, of 
which the earth is full; this Anti-Christ, of the last days; this 
universal wickedness as at the time of the destruction of the 
ungodly by the flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah with fire 



THE LOVE OF GOD. 79 

and brimstone. Stand aloof, and cry woe unto all that do 
these things. "Wo unto the rebellious children, saith the 
Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with 
a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to 
sin." [Isaiah, 30th chap. 10th ver. Wo!! Wo!!! Wo!!!! 
to all that put the Lord God out of their hearts, and will 
have none of his holiness, that will not flee from the wrath 
to come, for the day of Jehovah is near at hand. He is 
coming! He is coming to judge the earth; in righteousness he 
will judge the world. Then shall he say unto his Saints 
and Annointed enter into the joy of your Lord, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the commencement of the 
world. And to them that never sought or cared to know him 
or his spirit, that they might be saved — Depart from me ye 
cursed into the fire and torments prepared for the devil and 
his angels, from the foundation of the world. Amen. 



DISCOURSE VII. 

ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: 

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh 

after God, 
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become un- 
profitable', there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

Romans, 3d chapter, 10th, 11th 8f 12th verses. 

I have shown in former discourses the impossibility of 
pleasing God without holiness, for he expressly says, be ye 
as 1 am, "Holy;" and as for any other righteousness than the 
righteousness of Christ, it is all a fable ; diametrically oppo- 
sed to the tenor of Divine Revelation, as respects honor 
and worship to God, hateful to him who is a pure and holy 
Being, worthy of all adoration and praise, and cannot, there- 
fore, be reverenced and worshipped contrary to his known 
will and express declaration, which is, through the righte- 
ousness in Christ, " Even the righteousness of God, which is 
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that be- 
lieve; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and 
come short of the Glory of God." God is no respecter of 
persons, but every soul that sinneth it shall die ; but now 
there is a remedy provided in the righteousness of Christ, 
that every soul that sinneth may live, by timely repentance 
unto God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. God has in- 
cluded all under sin, in consequence of Adam's transgres- 
sion — that the whole world might become guilty before 
Him. Therefore, by self-righteousness and the deeds of the 
law — no one even does them — shall no flesh be justified 
in his sight ; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. " But 
now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 81 

being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Although 
hundreds may think themselves good and moral men, be- 
cause they attend to some outward things enjoined upon all 
as far as may be in their power, such as to hear the word of 
God on the Sabbaths, giving a trifle to the poor, and many 
other minor things which they attend to even with strict- 
ness ; but at the same time pass over the weightier matter 
of their soul's justification before God, through the righteous- 
ness which is in Christ ; because they commit no gross out- 
ward sin, they are induced to rely on their own morality, 
consisting in deeds of charity and formality in religion ; flat- 
tering their soul's with the hope that they may even stand 
before Christ in the judgment, contrary to the word of God, 
"there is none righteous, no, not one." 

In these dreadful times of degeneration, of mere formality 
in the church, without the spirit and power of godliness, but 
amalgamation with the spirit of the infidelity of the world. 
It may not be amiss to dwell on this fundamental doctrine, 
" the righteousness of Christ," which is so Ireely promised 
to justify the truly repenting sinner before God; when he 
loathes himself, and abhors sin, and accounts himself un- 
worthy with all his deeds and self-righteousness to appear 
before so holy and pure a Being, in comparison of whom he 
is as filthy as dung ; when he thus knows himself to be vile 
and undone, a child of hell, and under the wrath of the 
Almighty, to be sent thither at his option or spared by his 
mercy ; he casts himself, in humility, in the dust before his 
Maker, and implores his divine clemency ; confesses as just 
mentioned, his sins, filthiness, and undone state, cries inces- 
santly for mercy! mercy!! pardon! pardon!! and for forgive- 
ness of sins for Jesus 1 sake; pleading his merit, and righte- 
ousness, and the virtue of his precious blood, to be cleansed 
from all sins and iniquity ; purified unto God one of his pe- 
culiar people ; fully justified, and the righteousness of Christ 
imputed unto him. Then he will find himself a new crea- 
ture 5 one who has put off the old man and put on the new, 

8 



82 ON RIGGTEOUSNESS. 

which after God, through Christ, is created in righteousness 
and true holiness. 

The sinner thus renovated, regenerated and justified be- 
fore God, will find himself agreeably relieved from the 
mountain load of iniquity and guilt which before pressed 
his wretched soul and caused him to groan under it. He 
moves, as it were, in a holier atmosphere, breathing a sweet- 
er air — and as the sky-lark in the morning sun — breaks forth 
in singing the high praises of God his Saviour, in the light 
of the Sun of Righteousness shining in his heart and illumin- 
ating his soul ; and through faith in the Son of God he beholds 
the luster and glory of heaven, of the holy of holies, with all 
his brethren, the sons of light surrounding the throne of Je- 
hovah. Yes, verily, he can now claim kindred to the Holy 
Angels and Saints on high ; being born and adopted into the 
household of God, a son and an heir of glory. His delight 
is in the things pertaining to eternal life and profitable unto 
godliness, and his conversation is in heaven, where also his 
treasure is, an inheritance incorruptible, undenled, and that 
never, never fades away. 

Thus you see the unspeakable advantage the true chris- 
tion has over the sinner and the infidel ; he is at once sure 
of the " life that now is and of that which is to come ;V and 
stands unmoved at the occurrences which make the unbe- 
lievers tremble and quake by beholding : he knows that he 
who has the destiny of the earth, world, of the universe, 
at the wink of his eye, is his brother, is his Father, and 
therefore, nothing can harm him. The untoward appearance 
of every thing will be over-ruled by his Almighty friend to 
work for him a " far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory, whilst he looks not at the things that are seen, but at 
the things that are not seen ; for the things that are seen are 
temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. 1 ' 

As it is with one individual, so with a whole community, 
and likewise so with a whole nation, who after having put 
away the fear and reverence of God> disliking to keep him 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS 83 

in remembrance until they become utterly estranged from 
him, and confirmed in their unbelief and wickedness, God 
sees proper to send judgments upon them to turn them from 
the error of their ways ; and if then they humble themselves 
individually, as stated already, or collectively as a commu- 
nity or nation, they may be blessed with the same pardon 
and justification through our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, 
and be re instated to the favor and holy image of God, and 
flourish in the light of his countenance, and walk with him 
in righteousness and holiness, and have the same interest in 
Him ; and therefore, as little to fear at the commotion of 
other nations when the Lord sends war, pestilence and fam- 
ine to shake terribly the earth, " because they have made the 
Lord their refuge, and the most High their habitation. "1 

The true christian can always triumph and rejoice on his 
pilgrimage here below; following in the foot steps of his 
Divine Master : led on by the holy spirit of God, conquering 
and to conquer He will now have ^rnore fighting to do 
than he ever had in his life before — against his spiritual ene- 
mies, however, which will be all arrayed against him ; led on 
by Satan, the Prince of hell and darkness, in whose train fol- 
low all that are not born from above—a vast number in these 
times o( infidelity and ungodliness of eighteen hundred and 
thirty-nine, three hundred years after the reformation, when 
bibles and testaments are so abundant, two or three to be 
found in almost every family ; yet, where are the Saints? 
where are the men after God's own heart? where are they 
that delight in God and hate Satan, that are grieved at the 
wickedness of the age, and walk with God in holiness, and 
seek to do all for his glory, and to extend the Redeemer's 
church and kingdom over the whole earth ? There are 
some such, but the probability is the number is very small. 
Has then the word of God lost its healing and saving effi- 
cacy, and the costly, the holy blood of Jesus, its virtue, its 
power to cleanse from all iniquity? Ah, no! It is yet as pow- 
erful as at the very beginning when it was sounded forth, 



84 ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"LET THERE BE LIGHT!' and there was LIGHT?' 
and since then unto the present time hundreds and thou- 
sands, yea millions have been by it, applied by the holy 
spirit, called out of the spiritual darkness into this marvel- 
lous light, "the light of the gospel;" to know their sins for- 
given through Jesus and his righteousness, and that he was 
their Saviour, and beside him there is none other ; and they 
could exclaim, " My Lord and My God." And thanks be 
to my blessed God and Saviour, so can some now, even 
now; but as mentioned before, they are undoubtedly very 
few. But why now so few? Because Satan always had some 
champions in the field, and in these latter days they have 
made dreadful work by sowing tares among the wheat, and 
as the Lord gathered some of the sheaves of wheat into his 
garner, but the tares remained — as there shall only be a final 
separation on the last day — the general ingathering of the 
Lord's own — and have multiplied awfully since, so that the 
wheat is now scattered, and not so many in sheaves as there 
have been at times ; but that which now remains, some how- 
ever, is of the firmest quality, having been tried as by fire and 
water, and it still endures, and what is more, it improves in 
quality ; a sure proof that the word of the pood Lord is 
as efficacious and powerful as ever. Now therefore, my 
brethren, if there be any in Christ, be undismayed, be firm 
and persevering in the life of Godliness, and the blessed 
spirit will perfect you by sanctification and all the blessings 
of the redemption of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
And if any shall or have just set out— have put their hands 
to the plough, let them not look back that they be unworthy 
of the Lord, but be your course onward under the banner 
of Jesus, and in the strength of the Almighty, ye shall do 
valiently. He it is that subdues our enemies, internal as 
well as external ; by creating within us holy tempers from 
time to time by his holy spirit, enabling us to progress con- 
tinually in holiness, and to love him with a perfect heart 
and bring every affection into the obedience of Christ, so 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 85 

as to be crucified with him unto the worlds but alive unto God. 
And being thus established, strengthened and fortified by the 
everlasting arms, we are secure as to the outward enemies, 
whose threats fall harmless at our feet; and should they be 
even permitted to persecute us wilh vigor, with hellish ma- 
lice full ; even to the extent of depriving us of an earthly 
existence, " Fear not him that has power only to destroy 
the body and can do no more; but continue to fear him 
who, when he has destroyed, has power to cast into hell ; 
yea, I say unto you, fear him," says our blessed Master, to 
warn us not to faint by the way at such trifles. If our love 
should become low, perfect love casts out all fear, persecu- 
tion has a tendency to fan it into a flame to burn more fer- 
vently, so that our hearts desire will rather be, to be absent 
from the body, and to be present with the Lord ; who dwel- 
ling in us, will enable us to exult and rejoice that we are 
accounted worthy to suffer for his name's sake and to glorify 
him ; and we shall tnumph even in death itself, and holy 
Angels shall escort our redeemed souls into the regions of 
light, life, and bliss, to live with our Holy Father in heaven 
forevermore. 

" There is none that under standeth, there is none that seeketk 
after God" The all-wise, beneficent Creator and Ruler of 
the universe, when he formed man of the dust of the earth, 
he endowed him with faculties far above the most intelligent 
of his earthly creatures, and after breathing into his nostrils 
the breath of life, man became a living soul ; an immortal 
spirit; an intelligent being to hold sweet converse with his 
Maker, with his Father, which was a privdege the other 
creatures were not blessed with, but were subordinate to 
him, and he reigned over them as their Lord and Master, 
and called them by name in his wisdom and understanding, 
well pleasing to his Creator. He was holy and intelligent, 
and flourished in the sun-shine and glory of his Almighty 
Father ; and while he thus continued to exercise his supe- 
rior intellect to the obedience of God, he remained in his 



86 ON RIGHTEOUSNESS, 

favor and was altogether holy and happy ; but as soon as he 
failed in this his duty, he fell; his understanding became 
confused, and he became degraded below the perfect, holy 
Image of God, whom to know, to love, and to obey with all 
the heart, and to depart from all iniquity, is true wisdom 
and understanding — which he now found himself unable to 
do, but prone to do evil, and that continually ; the conse- 
quence of which was, his expulsion out of Paradise ; yes, 
God drove him out of his presence, and entailed a curse 
upon him to the latest posterity. In mercy, he however, 
also ordained ways and means through which, by the exer- 
cise of his understanding he might again return to God; be 
re-instated to his favor and holy Image, and finally, be re- 
ceived into a Paradise, even greater than the one he had 
forfeited ; which privilege was also extended to his descend- 
ants to the latest posterity. 

As in Adam all die, so in Christ are all made alive. "For 
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life." Yea, Jesus has become the propitiation 
that through faith in Him we may live in an eternal Para- 
dise with Him, be even more blessed then Adam was ere 
the fall, because we shall be in the immediate presence of 
our Father with the holy Angels, surrounding him in his 
glory ; play on golden harps and lyres, and sing Hosannas! 
and Hallelujahs!! unto God and the Lamb forever and ever. 

I have been reviewing the present state of mankind in 
my former discourses, applying some portions of scripture, 
as my blessed Father aided me by his holy spirit, fur their 
instruction and benefit ; and may my labor not be altogeth- 
er in vain in the Lord to excite this people, this naiion, to a 
right course of action to save themselves singly and com- 
bined from disgrace and ruin — not only temporal but eternal. 
How is it that none understand, that none seek after God ? 
Is it because understanding consists in love, fear, holiness 
and obedience unto God? and ye are prone to evil and delight 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 87 

in inquity, and will not have him to reign over you because 
your deeds are evil — ye love darkness rather than light, and 
will not come to the light lest your deeds of darkness will 
be reproved, made manifest, and ye might become convict- 
ed of your abominable crimes ; made ashamed, yea, ye 
might become converted, and Christ might heal you ; and if 
so, would this be a great disparagement to your poor miser- 
able souls, to be thus snatched as brands from everlasting 
burnings ; "from hell, which hath enlarged herself, and opened 
her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multi- 
tude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend 
into it.'" — Isaiah. Because the blessed God is all light, and 
there is no darkness at all in him, ye must needs hate him, 
persecute him in his followers ; and serve Satan with all 
your might — who has been the cause of all the misery and 
wretchedness the whole creation has been groaning under 
ever since he succeeded in deceiving our first parents in 
Paradise. Are ye therefore reasonable in doing so? Cer- 
tainly not. Ye abuse the intellectual faculties inherent in 
you, and awful will be your predicament when the Lord the 
Judge, will summons you to give account for the talent he 
had vested in you — he will be unable to invite you into the 
joy of our Lord with those that improved their talent to his 
glory ; but will be compelled to command that you be as 
wicked and slothful servants, " cast into outer darkness, 
where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

God is no respecter of persons ; the soul that sinneth it 
shall die. But now there is a remedy through our blessed 
Saviour Jesus Christ, which is on this wise — the soul that 
believes it shall live ; that is not as devils believe, for it 
makes them tremble— but a lively faith in him that he is the 
only and the all-sufficient Saviour of mankind ; that his 
blood cleanses from all sin ; a faith which works by love 
and casts out all fear ; because through him is a deadness 
to sin and perfect reconciliation with God, and they that 



88 ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

have him as their friend and Father, have not much to be 
afraid of neither in time nor in eternity. 

"Through wisdom is a house builded ; and by under- 
standing it is established ; and by knowledge shall the 
chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.'" — 
(Prov., 24th chap., 3d & 4th verses.) Now this nation may 
be likened unto a house, being divided into states, answer- 
ing to the chambers thereof. Therefore, let every state 
learn its duty from these words of Solomon, and aid in 
building up this house, this nation, which is on the decline 
and must be re-established, or it will totter until it finally 
falls, and its destruction be complete. And now if any man 
lacks wisdom, according to the Apostle, "let him ask of 
God, who gives liberally and upbraideth not." This, there- 
fore, and understanding, are the two articles or qualities 
absolutely necessary to save this house, this nation from 
utter, Irom eternal ruin. And as " the fear of the Lord is 
wisdom, and to depart from iniquity is understanding" — 
why not speedily attend to these things? Why not cease 
trampling your own laws under foot? applied to every state 
in the nation. But, awful! awful!! the laws of the Omnip- 
otent, holy God, and the precious blood of Jesus — which was 
shed for the remission of your sins — but which you thus 
dispose of, and glory in your shame ; you may rest assured 
the Almighty does not wink at your dreadful course of 
wickedness — of having put him out of your remembrance 
and bowing to strange gods, unto Baal. There is no other 
alternative but for you to repent, and humble yourselves 
under the mighty arm of God. Implore the clemency of the 
King of Kings, that he may mercifully and graciously spare 
you and teach you true wisdom, understanding and knowl- 
edge, that ye may endure; be firmly established on the Rock 
of Ages ; and that your chambers (sub-divided into every 
heart of each state,) may be filled with the truly precious 
and pleasant riches ; the knowledge of salvation in the re- 
mission of your sins, through the riches of the redemption of 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 89 

our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the fruits thereof; 
faith, love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

" They are all gone out of the way, they are together become 
unprofitable; there's none that doeth good, no, not one.'''' Jesus 
Christ our blessed Saviour declares, " 1 am the Way, the 
Truth, and the Life." Therefore, to love him, believe in him, 
keep his words and commandments, is to walk in the way 
to eternal life and felicity ; but to deny him, disregard his 
words and commands and be ungrateful for the salvation 
he accomplished on Mount Calvary ; live in a course of sin 
and iniquity, is certainly a gross departure out of the true 
way as laid down and pointed out in Holy Writ; which 
is a way of holiness, and its paths are peace, and lead into 
the Paradise of God, described in such glowing language, 
the reality of the beauties of which enrapture us, but are far 
above our comprehension, to conceive them with anything 
like perfection; wherein also is the " Holy of Holies," where 
the Mystic Deity is enthroned in Gloiy, surrounded by the 
sons of light, reflecting his transcendent lustre, and with 
golden harps cause the etherial dome to resound with his 
praise. Here in this hallowed and sanctified expanse is the 
eternal home of all the redeemed of the Lord, the Saints of 
God, which have come thither by the true way and entered 
in at the straight gate, which is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. To be contrary and deny him, as 1 stated before, is 
to be far, far out of the way, and on the broad road leading 
into the dark and horrible gulph of despair, where Satan 
the infernal demon, has his abode, surrounded by his legions 
of dark spirits, and all that wander on this dangerous way, 
until ushered over the verge of time, and plunged into this 
pit of fire and brimstone, this home of devils where there is 
no rest day nor night, forever and ever. 

They are altogether become unprofitable; Even the most 
holy, zealous, and faithful christians, by walking with God 
unbiameably, do nothing more than that which is enjoined 
upon them and their duty, and are but little more than un- 



90 ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

profitable servants; they are however welcomed into the joy 
of our Lord, not because of their works, but through faith 
in Jesus, who is the true and only way to glory, and if they 
who have his righteousness imputed unto them are scarcely 
saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinners appear? who 
abuse the talents he committed unto them; they not only sup- 
press them or cause them to lay obscure; without doing good 
to the Lord for the extension of his kingdom throughout the 
earth, but they employ them in the cause of his adversary, 
and their own decided, bitter, and cruel enemy, the murder- 
er of their souls; they serve him day and night with all their 
might; and this is so general throughout the land, that the 
words are very appropriate, "they are together become un- 
profitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one." And 
therefore I do not marvel at the slight judgments of famine? 
or at least half-crops for the last five or six years; so that year 
before last hundreds and thousands were fed by the Almigh- 
ty with the production of other countries; which in itself 
ought to humble the pride of this nation and every one be- 
longing to it. What the merciful Lord (his mercy spared 
you thus) will farther do, a few years will reveal; certain it 
is that he is not yet satisfied w ith you, and never can be un- 
til you repent. 

Let me, who wishes you well, for your soul's sake, unde- 
ceive you by informing you of these things, and that you 
cannot deceive Him who, although invisible, is present 
everywhere, and knows all things in heaven and on earth, 
even "your hearts afar off;" and that the thoughts of them 
are evil and that continually, and that there is no good in 
you. Therefore your cold, formal worship, and cry of re- 
vival here and revival there, will avail you nothing, but 
increase your damnation which slumbers not; for if ye have 
made the trees good how comes it that they bear evil and 
pernicious fruit? Be not deceived, God is not mocked; these 
things may do to deceive at a distance, and serve the devil a 
good turn, which may be your object, but you will not quite 



ON RIGHTEOUSNESS. 91 

deceive the "very elect," much less their Father, to whose 
further mercj 1 must now again commend you, and pray 
that through the merit which is in and through Jesus Christ 
our Lord, as Saviour and Mediator, ye may yet be spared — 
awhile at least — and if not all, hundreds and thousands, yea 
millions may find through Him, salvation and joy, and peace, 
and a final rest for their souls in the Paradise of God. — 
To whom be the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
forever and ever. Amen, Amen. 



DISCOURSE VIII, 

ON REPENTANCE. 

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptised 
of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to 
flee from the wrath to come ? 

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 
not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our 
Father-, for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones 
to raise up children unto Abraham. 

And now also the axe is laid at the root of the trees, every tree 
therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down 
and cast into the fire. [Luke, 3d Chapter. 

John, the forerunner of our blessed Lord, by the providence 
of God, was born some months prior to the Prince of life, 
and like him, his parents had to leave Judea to save his life 
in consequence of the decree of King Herod, for the des- 
truction of all the male population of two years and under. 
After his parent's death he continued his sojourn in the des- 
ert, subsisting upon locusts and wild honey, his raiment being 
of camel's hair with a leathern girdle about his loins accord- 
ing to custom — some writers, however, affirm that he was 
miraculously fed and clothed by the angels of the Lord, that 
they were his companions and administered unto him. Be 
that as it may, the blessed God supported and matured him, 
by his divine providence, for a great work and to suffer in 
his cause; and we also know, because the word of the God 
of truth informs us— " That the Holy Angels are minister- 
ing spirits sent forth to minister unto them that shall be heirs 
of salvation:" and that they personally, visibly and vision- 
arily appeared to some of the patriarchs, prophets and apos- 
tles, and many holy men of the true church of Christ, and 



ON REPENTANCE, 93 

those that were earnestly and faithfully seeking to become 
such; and we know that they befriend in errands of mercy, 
if not visibly, invisibly, those who truly seek conversion, and 
every one walking already in the path of holiness. 

God in due time sent this burning and shining light to 
preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 
and to inform the people that the kingdom of heaven was at 
hand. He came forth as one fully vested with power and 
authority from the Majesty on High, but in humility, and as 
a light shining in darkness, and as Isaiah saith, " The voice 
of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the 
Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, 
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the 
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places shall be 
made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" 

The Baptist, although a pilgrim and instructed in the wil- 
derness, was well aware of the utter neglect and abuse of 
vital Christianity among his countrymen, and particularly 
among certain sects that pervaded the land, which were in- 
flated with pride, and self-conceit of their superior holiness, 
when at the same time they were destitute of the saving 
grace and influences of the Holy Spirit, alienated from, and 
without a knowledge of God in their hearts. Multitudes 
from Jerusalem, Judea and the surrounding country, went 
to the preaching of John and to be baptised of him, and he 
exhorted the people to righteousness, mercy, and judgment; 
to be good citizens, contented in their seveial callings, and to 
contribute to the poor according to their respective abilities; 
and many were also baptised by him. But when many, of 
the Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism— as St. 
Luke relates it — he said " O generation of vipers, who 
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" It ap- 
pears, therefore, that he applied our text more particularly 
to these self-righteous and austere combinations, who knew 
not God, but were full of mischief and subtlety, given to 
adultery and their slavish passions; in fact the devil was their 



94 ON REPENTANCE. 

father, and they were his children, their hearts were therefore 
full of filthy qualities of the old serpent, which was a deceiv- 
er, liar, and murderer from the beginning. Such being their 
disposition they went in and out in their own righteousness, 
and would have the world believe they were the '•'"peculiar 
Jew;" they seated themselves into Moses' seat, and there- 
fore presumptiously laid heavy burdens — too heavy to bear— 
upon men's shoulders, when they themselves would not touch 
them with one of their fingers. Thus they pretended to lead 
the blind while they themselves were far from the true way, 
bewildered in darkness, and therefore justly called "blind 
leaders of the blind." 

John, through the infallible spirit of God, could see into 
their hearts, and from their high pretensions to holiness and 
teachers in Israel knew them to be hypocrites, which indu- 
ced him to exclaim, " O generation of vipers, who hath 
warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" He well 
knew that our blessed Lord had not yet entered upon his 
ministry, and that no prophet of the Lord had preached un- 
to them, he therefore asked them "who had warned them;" 
because they came not to him with the necessary prepera- 
tion for baptism, a broken heart and contrite spirit; sorrow 
on account of their sins, a loathing of themselves and a de- 
sire after the righteousness which is from above, and to be 
"washed and made clean," and freed from an evil heart of 
unbelief, and be inured in the paths of holiness and godli- 
ness — but they came just as they were, in their self-righte- 
ous state; with all the pollution and leprosy of sin upon them 
delighting in iniquity, and as swine to wallow in the mire, 
and about as fit to be baptised; therefore the Baptist, instead 
of washing them, commanded them to bring forth fruits 
worthy of repentance, such we presume as we have stated 
they were destitute of when they presented themselves; an 
upbraiding of heart with "unclean, unclean," an utter ab- 
horrence of their former course of iniquity, a knowledge of 



ON REPENTANCE. 95 

being altogether polluted and sick and in want of a physi- 
cian. Had they come thus prepared to receive the blessing 
of salvation, the balm might have been applied by the agent 
of the great physician of souls and bodies, and they might 
have been cleansed, as Naaman the Syrian, from their sin 
and unrighteousness. 

Their glorying in Abraham and thinking within them- 
selves " We have Abraham for our Father," was to be an 
antidote to the words of John, and a balm to heal their 
wounded pride and self-conceit, but he soon stript them of 
this resource and exposed them in their filthiaess and of their 
unfitness of the privilege which they claimed, and to shelter 
under his wing, by saying, " God is able of these stones to 
raise up children unto Abraham.'" Their claim of being 
kindred to Abraham was fallaceous and of no avail to their 
proud hearts, for they knew him not, were entirely destitute 
of the living faith, the faith working by love, which Abra- 
ham so eminently possessed, and also of his long suffering, 
humility, and heavenly-mindedness; consequently they could 
not be his children; none can claim kindred to Abraham 
or any other member of Christ's church, without being in 
the same faith and holiness, and through the spirit of Christ 
in him, in one allied. They were therefore as far from being 
the children of faithful Abraham, as heaven is from hell, 
because through Christ was his life hid in God; he dwelled 
in God and God in him; and they were vipers, and the devil 
was their father. 

Dreadfully hardened and corrupt were the hearts of the 
Pharisees; full of hypocrisy and deception, making broad 
their phylacteries and long prayers at the corners of the 
streets and in the markets, to be seen and heard of men, as 
our blessed Saviour assures them — whose coming, John, in 
the spirit of Elijah was sent to announce to them. As it is 
written in the prophets, " Behold I send my messenger be- 
fore thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee; he 
shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 



96 ON REPENTANCE. 

disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a peo- 
ple prepared for the Lord. " But notwithstanding this proph- 
ecy, and the preaching of John the Baptist, they remained 
in their old state of unbelief and self-righteousness, yea if 
anything they grew worse and became more hardened, and 
began with more zeal to persecute the holy messengers of 
the Lord; particularly the Messiah, who soon after entered 
on his ministry. They would not recognize him as the an- 
nointed of the Lord, sent to deliver them that sat in darkness 
and in the shadow of death; to set the captives free, and 
preach the acceptable year of the Lord; to accomplish sal- 
vation, to become the Saviour of the world; him they follow- 
ed from place to place, not indeed to become convinced of 
the error of their ways and converted through faith in him, 
as the Messiah, unto God, but with all hatred, malice, and 
revenge; full of subtlety to ensnare him in his preaching and 
conversation, to have wherewith to accuse him before the 
civil tribunal. 

While the blessed Jesus endeavored to liberate them from 
the bondage of sin and death, they trampled all his holy 
efforts under their feet and boasted in having Abraham for 
their father, and of never having been in bondage to any 
man; and yet he said "ye shall be made free. 1 ' Jesus replied 
"verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is 
the servant of sin," and that the servant could not abide in 
the house forever, but that the Son abideth forever. He ad- 
mitted that they were the seed of Abraham, but that they 
sought to kill him because his words had no place in them. 
"What he meant by saying they were the seed of Abraham 
must be considered in a natural way; they were his children 
by nature; as God had told Abraham "from thy loins shall 
come forth a people, in multitude as sand on the sea-shore, 
innumerable.'" They thus had a claim to Abraham as their 
father, but in the spiritual way they were of the bond-wo- 
man; were altogether estranged from him, they knew him 
not as a spiritual father, as all the faithful do who are set at 



ON REPENTANCE. 97 

liberty through Christ, who also told them if they were 
children of Abraham they would do his works; but because 
they were not of Abraham, but of the devil they sought to 
kill him; which they soon after effected by nailing him to the 
cross and thus confirmed the words of John, and proved 
themselves a generation of vipers. 

Let us consider the part we have gone through before we 
proceed to the last portion of the text. All infidels and un- 
believers; all that delight themselves in the lusts of the flesh, 
the pride of life, and wordly ambition, the wisdom which is 
not from above, but which is of the serpent; all hypocrites, 
and hoards of modern pharisees, and self-righteous dema- 
gogues, and abusers of themselves with mankind, winch a 
person might think was not applicable to any in these times 
of Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies, and when Bibles 
and Testaments are so plenty, found in every house, and 
when churches are so numerous and almost daily building 
throughout the country; in this age of pretensions to such a 
high state of civilization and refinement. I say a person 
would scarcely think that it could be possible, when it really 
is one of the prevailing sins of the land and causes it to groan 
and mourn under it. Where have we got to? the lowest 
depth of degradation and heathenism, or the middle age.3 of 
darkness, infidelity and corruption? yea even to a worse 
case in relation to God for his great mercies and blessings 
abused. O earth! earth!! earth!!! mourn and be astonished 
at the shamelessness and degeneratedness of thy children. — 
O ye generation of vipers, how long do you think God will 
bear with you? Be warned, be warned speedily to flee from 
the wrath to come; see ye not the awful judgments which the 
Almighty is bringing upon you for your filthy abominations; 
will ye remain blind to them until ye are crushed into hell. 
O that ye were wise, that ye saw the judgments of our 
Father ushering so many of your fellows into eternity, to their 
own home, that you understood this, that ye would consider 
your latter end. 

9 



9ff ON REPENTANCE. 

And say not within your hearts that ye have Abraham for 
your father, "for God is able of these stones to raise up 
better children unto Abraham; 11 neither say ye are of Paul 
or of Appollos, or of Luther, or of Calvin, or of Wesley^ 
the usefulness and piety, the holiness and devotedness to 
God, of these men can avail you noshing, if ye remain yet 
in your sins and abominations. If ye value your souls, bring 
forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and through Christ 
who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, be ye converted 
unto God. Christ is the foundation and way of salvation — 
and there is no other name given whereby ye can be saved, 
and escape ihe wrath to? come, which has even already com- 
menced. Remember the flood upon the ungodly, remember 
Sodom and Gomorrah, and remember other nations which 
had not the fear of God before their eyes; they were cast as 
dung upon the earth, removed out of \ he sight and nostrils 
of Jehovah, and where do you think they are in eternity? ah 
that you knew; that you would believe when you are infor- 
med by Him who is enthroned in the Holy Place, when he 
swears in his wrath that all that do these things, shall not 
enter into his rest, and that all the wicked and the nations 
that forget him shall be turned into hell. And theiefore the 
conclusion of our text :— 

Amd now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees, 
every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is 
hewn down and cast into the fire. Johns 1 exposing their 
wickedness, and preachmg the baptism of repentance lor the 
remission of sins; offering the terms of life and laying the 
articles of death before them; thus was the axe laid unto 
the root of the trees, they were therefore to choose whether 
they would serve God or mammon, and bring forth fruits ac- 
cordingly, so as to be known by their fruits, and if they bore 
evil fruit they were to be cut down and cast into the fire, as 
they no doubt were all that died or were cut down in their 
sins, for to heaven they could not psssibly come without 
holiness, without having beea trees of righteousness, the 
planting of the Lord that he might be glorified. 



ON REPENTANCE. 99 

Soon after this preaching and warning of John, they 
exhibited by their fruits what sort of trees they were, by 
crucifying the Lord of Life and Glory, and further, by con- 
tinuing in their national unbelief despising all the promises, 
and disregarding all the threats of the Almighty, and perse- 
cuting the messengers of the Most High ; their works were 
only evil continually, and an abomination in the sight of 
God; he therefore, visited them with awful judgments; cut 
thorn down as cumberers of the ground ; destroyed them as 
a nation, and scattered them abroad upon the face of the 
earth. 

I would now also apply it to this nation which indulges 
so grossly in this pollution, this filthy abomination in the 
sight of the Omnipotent, Holy God, for which the land has 
been mourning and groaning for some years, on account of 
his displeasure, and the judgments which he sent upon it to 
teach you wisdom and cause you to follow the example of 
INinevah, to repent and do away the evil from before his eyes. 
And have you so repented and amended your ways as to 
walk more humbly and upright with God? alas, no! if any- 
thing ye are plunged deeper into the mire, and continue a 
hardened, abominable and stiff-necked people, from whom 
the wrath of an angry God will not be averted until ye re- 
pent and do away the evil, or until he chastise you to the 
uttermost, even to the destroying you as a nation from the 
face of the earth; and at this I am greatly astonished, that it 
has not been done already; but then when I remember how 
merciful Jesus the Saviour and Intercessor is, who probably 
interceded that the barren tree might be spared yet a little 
while. Ye are not only a barren tree as respects the fruit ye 
should bear so as to glorify God, and be his delight; but ye 
are a polluted tree, your fruit is abominable, and ye are a 
dishonor to God, and he abhors you, and must of necessity 
for he is holy and cannot possibly delight in such as ye are, 
for ye are filthy; and therefore 1 forewarn you to flee from the 
wrath to come. 



100 ON REPENTANCE. 

A word to the wise, if there be any such, that are heartily 
tired and loath this beast of abominations, and wish to come 
out from amongst them, do so with all possible speed that ye 
partake not of their sins. Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose 
blood cleanseth from all sins, stands ready to receive you. 
u Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and 
1 will give you rest: take my yoke upon you and learn of me, 
for I am meek and lowly, and ye shall have rest unto your 
souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 1 ' O what 
precious words are these of our blessed Saviour, to miserable 
sinners, that have even fought against him, lived in gross 
sins and persecuted Christ in his people; but have seen their 
folly and madness in time, and are sensible of the awful 
state they are in, the wretchedness and misery of a life of 
sin and debauchery, and abhor themselves on account of 
their iniquity, and long after peace and rest for their souls. — 
Jesus yet mercifully invites all such in those gracious w@rds 
of love and many others. *■' Knock and it shall be opened, 
seek and ye shall find;" "believe and ye shall be saved," as 
the apostle also saith, "with the heart men believe unto 
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto 
salvation; therefore repent ye and believe the gospel; believe 
in Jesus the author and finisher of faith and salvation, that 
ye may be hid under his Almighty wings when the general 
destruction takes place, and finally live with him forever in 
heaven, in glory. 

To my brethren, the faithful, the holy, who are truly the 
children of faithful Abraham, because we do his works and 
delight therein, therefore are we his spiritual children, and 
we know God through the same faith that he also knew him 
and walked with him, through Jesus Christ our Lord. I 
would say to them, my brethren, be not weary in well-doing, 
be faithful to the end, watch, fast and pray without ceasing, 
that ye may abound in grace, in love, peace and joy in the 
Holy Ghost; and that ye be not enticed to do evil, but be 
enabled to disregard the smiles and frowns of the world, its 



ON REPENTANCE. 101 

promises and threats, malice, hatred, and revenge; for ye are 
a peculiar people, the chosen of the Lord, a holy nation 
within many nations, a royal priesthood; great is our high and 
holy privilege, let us not abuse it, but keep the devil the old 
beast with all his filthiness under our feet, and should he 
rage with ten thousand times more fury in the air, and in 
his filthy children, my beloved be nothing dismayed, which 
is to them a sure sign of destruction, but to us of salvation 
and that of God. For to us is given not only to believe in 
Christ, but also to suffer for his name's sake; rejoice therefore 
and be exceeding glad, we shall also reign with Christ when 
he in his glory is revealed from above, and have an entrance 
administered unto us abundantly into his everlasting king- 
dom of glory, to reign with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and 
all the Holy Angels, with our blessed Father in the New 
Jerusalem, in Paradise, and finally in the New Heavens and 
New Earth, in all joy, glory, felicity, happiness and bliss, 
forever and ever. Amen. 



DISCOURSE IX. 

THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

Jesvs Christ has become to us Wisdom, Righteousness, 

Sanctification, and Redemption, 

[1st Corinthians,, 1st chap., 30th ver. 
Christ our Wisdom. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with 
God, and the Word was God; and the same was in the be- 
ginning with God. AH things were made by him, and with- 
out him was not any thing made that was made." [St. Jol.n, 
1st, Chap.] Je^us was therefore mysteriously and incompre- 
hensibly, One with the Father from all eternity. By him 
were the heavens ordained and the foundations of the earlh 
laid, and the light spoke into being; the waters divided and 
the dry land made to appear; clothed with verdure, the herb 
yielding seed, and the tree yielding fruit after his kiud; the 
Sun, Moon and Stars placed in the fimanent; the Sun to 
rule the day, and the Moon and Stars to give light by ni^ht; 
the seas he filled with fish, and created birds to fly in the air 
in the midst of heaven, and also the beast after his kind, and 
the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth up- 
on the earth, afer his kind; beholding these things God in his 
w 7 isdom, pronounced them all good Then God said, "Let 
us make man in our own image," in His image therefore, 
created he him, and gave him dominion over all the fishes of 
the sea, fowls of the air, and beasts of the field, and every 
Jiving thing that creepeth upon the earth. God formed a 
help-meet to the man whom he had formed from the dust of 
the earth, and into whom he breathed the breath of life, so 
that he became a living soul, and he brought every living 
thing on the face of the earth to be named by him, and Adam 



THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 103 

distinguished them by different appellations to the entire ap- 
probation of his Father, who deemed it right that their names 
should so remain. In whose wisdom did Adam thus perfect- 
ly name the living creation? Certainly in the wisdow of 
Christ For being the first and only human being upon the 
face of the whole earth he could have had no visible instruc- 
tor, and to have been prompted by an a.potate spirit he would 
have faltered in his stupendous task, and could not possibly 
have pleased God. It is therefore self-evident that the Holy 
Ghost was his instructor, proceeding from the Father and 
the Son, through the Mystic Trinity. In Christ's wisdom 
then did he act. 

After this God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, 
and while he slept, he opened his side and took therefrom a 
rib and formed it into a partnei for the man, and brought *her 
to him, whom Adam, in the aforesaid wisdom, called "Wo- 
man, being bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, being 
taken out of man; and God plared them both into the garden 
of Eden and gave them permission to eat of every tree there- 
in, save the one in the midst of the garden, of the knowledge 
of good and evil — now they were perfect, innocent, and 
holy, and walked with God in wisdom and through their 
obedience every thing went on well, until the devil, that 
arch apostate, who had previously fallen from an A* gel's 
exalted state in heaven, and consequently brought upon him- 
self the wrath of God, and he together with all the rebel- 
lious spirits under him, were cast out from the presence of 
the blessed and Holy God, into the earth, where they are 
held in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great 
day, when the wrath of Almighty God shall be more fully 
revealed against him, with all his ungodly followers and after 
having been judged by Saints and Angels, and heard their 
sentence pronounced by Jesus Christ, the Judge, will be all 
immediately cast into hell, to be tormented with fire and 
brimstone forever and ever. 

This foul spirit being exasperated at his expulsion from 



104 THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

heaven, and an impossibility of returning thither, set to work 
to destroy the innocence, peace and happiness of this holy 
pair, and through his subtlety, entered the serpent — which 
was more cunning than any other of the creatures which 
God created on all the earth, and by a tact of lying — of 
which he is the Father, and wisdom of deception, he indu- 
ced them to take and persuaded them to eat of the forbidden 
fruit, the consequence was their immediate fall from the ho- 
liness of God and his wisdom, into ignorance and corruption 
of soul and body. The anger of God was kindled against 
them and they were driven out of Paradise, to obtain a liv- 
ing by their own hands, and to eat their bread by the sweat 
of their brow. But God, who is love, had pity and compas- 
sion upon them, and provided a remedy, that through Christ 
they and their seed might again return to him, be restored to 
his holy image, and-watk with him in wisdom and holiness. 

They now knew good from evil — that there was a wisdom 
that is from God, and one so called, that is from the devil ; 
and their hearts were hardened. God saw that iniquity grew 
upon them, and he therefore framed and gave laws to them, 
that were " holy, just and good," and commandments that 
were also good ; that by the observing of these, they might 
live together in peace, and end their course with joy, and re- 
turn to his, our Father's home and rest. 

But, O! how recklessly and depraved have men lived since 
then, in all ages of the world. In putting aside the wisdom 
of God ; they have hewn out cisterns ; broken cisterns that 
can hold no water ; their foolish hearts were darkened, and 
their delight was in the inventions of Satan, which all lead 
to destruction and death, and the endless torments of hell ; 
and how applicable is this to the present generation! God 
at first created man upright, but they have sought out many 
inventions; but in the face of this from the godly wise-men, to 
justiiy themselves, and quiet their consciences, many of the 
fools say in their hearts " there is no God ;" can it be possible 
that they are so hardened and blinded by ignorance and Sa- 
tan, that they cannot see the finger of God in every thing 



THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 105 

teeming with life around them ; their own bodies, bones and 
muscles; fibres, tendons and nerves, &c; the curiously- 
wrought ear and eye ; the blood circulating through the sys- 
tem to sustain the whole ; and by beholding over their heads 
the stupendous expanse of glittering luminaries ; the won- 
derful and sublime arch of suns, moons, and blazing stars, 
circumvolving in their course with such beautiful harmony 
and nice exactness — can they really not behold in all these 
things, superior wisdom to their own ; stand astonished, and 
exclaim with the child that was shut up in a dark dungeon 
until manhood, " who has placed those things there ?" and 
be informed through the inspired page, and instructed by 
those who are in the wisdom of Christ, of the true source 
from whence every blessing emanates, and be convinced of 
the fallaciousness of their reasoning, and utter grouudlessness 
of their wisdom — for this wisdom is not of God, but is earth- 
ly, sensual and devilish, and the wretched and unchangeable 
state their infidelity will finally bring them to, if they are not 
arrested in their madness, and persuaded from their delusion, 
and converted unto God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. " But the bible and our preaching is to them that 
perish foolishnes ; to us that are saved, the power of God 
and the wisdom of God.'' " For it is written, I will destroy 
the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the under- 
standing of the prudent." " Where is the wise? where is the 
scribe ? where is the disputer of this world 1 has not God 
made foolishness the wisdom of this world ?" " For after 
that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not 
God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save 
them that believe." [1st Cor. 1st Chap, verses 19, 20, and 
21.] Be ye therefore constrained by one who loves your souls 
no longer to live in darkness, vanity, and the foolishness of 
this world; but be as honest to yourselves, as the Corint ians 
to whom St. Paul preached; Many also of them which used 
curious arts brought their books together, and burned them 
before all men:' [Acts, 19c. 19v.] Thus they showed to the 



106 THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

world that their views \v- re changed and they dreaded the aw- 
ful consequences of a life spent in vice and iniquity, aid hence- 
forth they would walk in the righteousness and wisdom of 
God. (;! that every sinner would go and do likewise. "For 
the fear of the Lord that is wisdom : and to depart from ini- 
quity that is understanding." 
Chiist our Righteousness. 

It is very deplorable to know that thousands, yea millions 
of those that have the name of being christians, and that 
belong to some visible church on earth, among whom are 
many ministers, are uttoly at variance with this great grace 
and blessing, and are going about to establish in the face of 
it, their own righteousness; e.veiy one in his respective calling; 
preaching, going to church, alms (Seeds, and in many differ- 
ent ways; they arrogate to themselves praise far above that 
which is due to unregenerate persons, because they do these 
things with eye service and not to the glory of God, and then 
assume much comfort and ease, and on the strength of these 
things think themselves at liberty to indulge even in gross 
sins — building on a slippery foundation, while fiery billows 
roll beneath; erect a fabric that may be blown away almost 
by a breath. What need of a Saviour if men can save 
their own souls in their respective ways? — the impossibility 
of which will however appear to every candid, reflecting mind 
as God is the source of every good and perfect gift, by c< n- 
sequenee Salvation, that great blessing is from him, and Christ 
through his obedience, merit and righteousness has become 
the Saviour, and where his righteousness is not imputed, 
there is no salvation and men remain still in their sins. 

" The Lord our righteousnesss," from Jeremiah, 23d ch. 
6th ver., comports with this part of our subject; the inspired 
writer while predicting the coming of our blessed Saviour, 
honors him with the preceeding title, and instructs his hear- 
ers and the world in the way of Salvation; all the redeemed 
from all nations, through all ages are saved through the mer- 
it of his blood, through his righteousness; all other righteous- 
ness is but as filthy rags, but where that of Christ is imputed 



THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 107 

every good fruit is apparent, such as have been menlio ed 
already, done in a different temper than when the person 
was in a natural state, and calculated the bearing of these 
things according to his ambition in regard to his situation 
in this life, and'the influence they might exercise upon the 
views of the world, to his own aggrandisement. The natu- 
ral state is not congenial to the holy attributes of God, which 
require truth in the innermost parts; and a holy purpose that 
whatever we do may redound to his glory, and h ighteu the 
joy of the Angels in heaven, who know our trials here be- 
low, and are either sorrowful or abound in joy according to 
our triumph over the old Adam, and progress in the new; 
repentance, therefore is the first meritorions act, and the first 
step towards a sinner's conversion, to break up the fallow 
ground; then comes the miry clay, the broken heart, the 
wounded spirit, the deep anguish and agony of a distressed 
soul; the cries for mercy, mercy, pleading with God for 
forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake, for what he had done and 
suffered, through his most precious blood, through his death, 
resurrection and ascension, and through his mediatorial pow 
er at the right hand of the Father. 

This weight of anguish and sorrow of soul, this travail 
and agonizing to be delivered from the load of sin and cor- 
ruption which so severely presses the soul, and causes the 
body to sink under it; yea it even causes in some the very 
bones to partake of the general prostration, and to ache as 
though they had been bruised by some natural pressure; as 
also David, the King, complained when in affliction, saying, 
"my bones cleave to my skin," and that his soul loathed to 
eat bread; here is proof from scripture authority, and many 
since were able to testify that the whole man must become 
sick and in want of a physician; then, and not till then will 
he inquire, u is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician 
there?" And having become acquainted with his wants, and 
having made application to the Great Physician of Souls, 
to Jesus — who came not to call the righteous but sinners to 



108 THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

repentance — in the foregoing language of humility and sin- 
cerity, and if the night of doubt and darkness continues long; 
if ye cannot immediately behold him when ye wish, be ye 
not therefore tempted to give over the struggle, for Satan 
will persuade you to it if possible; listen not "to his lies — but 
continue your importunate prayers and supplications for sal- 
vation, so as not to let the blessed God go until he blesses 
you, and you may rest assured that sooner or later he will 
pay attention to your unuttered groans and louder cries. — 
Read the following texts for your comfort, "He that plant- 
ed the ear shall he not hear? he that formed the eye shall he 
not see?" A bruised reed will he not break? smoking flax 
will he not quench, until he send forth judgment unto victo- 
ry?" " Knock and it shall be opened, seek and ye shall find." 
These are all precious and refreshing promises to every re- 
penting soul after a night of trouble, the day-spring appears 
and the Sun of Righteousness arises in your hearts and souls: 
then ye have fought and attained the victory in the first battle 
of the good fight — now the mist and darkness has disappear- 
ed, your blindness has been taken away, and your sins par- 
doned; your names recorded in the Lamb's book of life; now 
also you have received this blessing of our Lord. " 1 am 
come to give to them that mourn in Zion; to give them beau- 
ty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise 
for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of 
righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be 
glorified," Your souls therefore now rejoice in the righteous- 
ness of your God and Saviour, your hearts leap fo joy, and 
are full of thanks and praise to him who has done this thing 
for you, and ready to shout with Isaiah — "Sing O ye heavens 
for the Lord has done it; shout ye lower parts of the earth; 
break forth into singing ye mountains, O forests and every 
tree therein, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified 
himself in Israel." 

Christ has become the end of the law, for righteousness 
unto you, because of your living faith, and you are now un- 
der the covenant of his grace. Manifest therefore, by holy 



THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 109 

tempers and Godliness, that ye are passed from death unto 
life, have put off the old man, and have put on the new man, 
which after God is created in righteousness and true holi- 
ness; that the world may take knowledge that ye have been 
with Jesus, and have his righteousness imputed to you; by 
your hatred of Satan and all his unrighteous inventions and 
deeds, and by your love to God and every thing heavenly and 
that may contribute to his glory, by your delight in whatso- 
ever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatso- 
ever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; and 
by your delight to serve and honor our blessed Father, and 
keep yourselves puie and unspotted from the world, aid at 
all times being holy and acceptable sacrifices unto God, 
which is your most reasonable servire; thus your confidence 
will increase, your faith be confirmed, and you will grow in 
the knowledge of God, in his righteousness, peace and joy 
in the Holy Ghost, to the fulness of the stature of Christ. 

Christ our Sanctific.atinn and Redemption: 

In the righteousness of Christ you will, by remaining faith- 
ful, and persevering, grow in the knowledge of God, even to 
the fullness of the stature of Christ, and as justification, or 
his wisdom and imputed righteousness goes before sanctifi- 
cation, you may have forgiveness of sin, and peace with God, 
yet this latter blessing may be withheld for a time, in the 
wisdom best known to himself; but as even this is to work 
together for good to them that love and fear God, the young 
christian has nothing to cause him to dispair, but to strive 
in his duty for this blessing also, and no doubt it will be 
granted; in due time, the operations of the Holy Spirit will 
be more clear and sensible to your undei standings and souls, 
and ye will freely cry Abba, Abba, Father, and have a near- 
er intercourse with God, and your joy will more and more 
abound; your souls will be as watered gardens, by the re- 
freshings from the presence of the Lord, the great Fountain 



IK THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

of love and goodness, and they will be as rivers meandering 
and shining in the ocran of his love, '-eflectiug the beams of 
the glorious Nun of Righteousness. All now is peace, love 
and gladness wilhin your heaits, and your spirits are lifted 
up and your souls sing lor joy. And well may ye rejoice, 
seated in high and heavenly places — the abode of Holy An- 
geis— 'hough Christ Jesus, the author, finisher, sanrtifier and 
rev\ aider of our faith, whose promises are sanctified to your 
souls and his words are no longer a terror, as they are to 
to the unconverted ; no, his words and commands are your 
delight, and with Holy King David you can say, "Lord, your 
commands are holy, just and good, and the rejoicing of my 
heart; 11 you will delight in often walking in this garden of 
Eden, to meditate in the inspired pages, to be refreshed and 
pluck the flowers— promises to- christians — to cheer you on 
your pilgrimage through this desert world, to brighten 
your houls to contemplate the beauties of Paradise, and soar 
to the regions of glory, to behold our brethren the sanctified 
and redeemed of the Lord, blooming in the effulgent glory of 
God, and reflecting the beatific Deity, and listen to the An- 
gelic chorus singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, and giv- 
ing vent to their praise in thf ir most divine and holy strains, 
cr\ing Hoi) ! Holy 1 ! Holy!! 1 Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, 
Thou King of faints, Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! ! the Lord 
God Omnipotent reigneth." 

Such is the life of God in the soul, the having Christ for wis- 
dom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, to walk 
with God in holiness; in his holy temple, where his honor 
dwelleth ; to be the children whom he delights to honor and 
bless with every choice blessing from Mount Zion; " Because 
he hath set his love upon me, therefore will 1 deliver him, I 
will set him on high, because he has known My name, he 
shall call upon me and 1 will answer him, 1 will be with 
him in trouble, 1 will deliver and honer him. With long 
Me will T satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.'' 

O! but these are precious promises to the sanctified and 
redeemed of the Lord, who ever beholds us from his high 



THE MERIT OF CHRIST. Ill 

and holy throne; supplies our wants and blesses us with love, 
peace and joy in the Hloy Ghost. Yea, God dotii in his 
Sainis delight: 

" He looks mid circumvolving spheres, 

Complaisant on his ransom'd heirs, 
More dear than all his works besidj, 

Bless'd souls for whom the Saviour died." 

We have considered the creation to behold the wisdom of 
God displayed, and were astonished at the stupendous mag- 
nificence presented to the natural eye, and his goodness to 
man in the productions and fruits of the earth, and the unlim- 
ited power over every other creature conferred upon him. But 
in the work of redemption we view him faj above the work 
of creation. O his love manifested through his condescen- 
sion to appear in human form on this eatthly ball, to, become 
a sacrificial Lamb, to atone for the sins and iniquity oi an 
u: grateful, miserable and wretched human bemgs. Thiough 
Emmanuel, God with us, did he out of love to our souls ac- 
complish this, so great a work on Calvary, then bruised the 
serpent's head and took away the sting of death, and tri- 
umphed over the grave; now may all the redeemed of the 
Lord smg and rejoice in our God and Saviour, and say to 
death, u O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy 
victory? thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through 
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." Yea our blessed 
Father will redeem our souls from the power of the grave; 
therefore with the psalmist David we may exult and ex- 
claim, " Our hearts are glad, and our glory rejoicelh; our 
flesh also shall rest in hope, for we know that our Redeemer 
liveth, and that he shall stand on the latter day upon the 
earth." Yea verily, the blessed Jesus is coming again, He 
is coming! He is coming!! arrayed in glory and majesty, 
and power; in his own glory and the glory of the Father, 
surrounded by all the shining, holy, heavenly hosts, of Angels 
and his redeemed Saints, when He will hold a general res- 
urrection; and we, his saints, shall have our bodies redeemed 



112 THE MERIT OF CHRIST. 

and glorified like unto his glorious body, and then shall the 
love of Jehovah and the glorious work of redemption be re- 
plete in gracious relief to the manifesiation of both parties; 
the redeemed and holy, and to the unsanctified and unholy; 
when all the world from beginning to end shall stand before 
Him; the redeemed with the Holy Angels sing with joy un- 
speakable and full of glory; and rejoice in their God and 
Saviour, but the rest, those who slight' d his love and would 
have none of his redemption and holiness, are, with their 
father the devil sentenced to wretchedness, and will be 
cast by the King of Saints and of Glory, into endless tor- 
ments, into hell, where the worm dieth not and the fire is 
not quenched. Then also shall the redeemed, with the holy 
angels, inherit the new heavens and the new earth, and sing 
praises and hallelujahs, unto the Father and unto the Lamb 
forever and ever. Amen 



DISCOURSE X. 

THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT, 

Therefore said they unto him. How were thine eyes opened? 
He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus, made clay 
and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool 
of Siloam, and wash and I went and washed, and I re- 
ceived sight. [John, 9th Chap. \Qth Sf 1 \th verses. 
O how numerous and lamentable are the afflictions of the 
human family in consequence of the wrath of God, entail- 
ed upon l he same, on the disobedience of our first parents. 
Dreadful are the issues flowing from the vials, even in this 
life, but how much more terrible and awful to those who 
neglect the salvation of their immortal souls, who die in 
their sins, in that which is to come; in that of endless dura- 
tion, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. 
jVian, created at the beginning innocent and holy, like unto 
the Angels of Heaven, without those concomitant evils to 
which he is heir to now, and has been throughout all ages of 
the world, from the time Jehovah pronounced the curse, "in 
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread;" and also, 
" dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." From 
this period the whole creation has been travailing in pain 
together until now; the earth bringing forth thorns and this- 
tles, and groaning and languishing on account of the mis- 
deeds of her inhabitants, who in the goodness and mercy of 
God, were, and are ttill visited by severe judgments; burdens 
of gracious plagues and sores are laid upon the children of 
men, which in the wisdom and providence of God, are to 
redound to their temporal and eternal welfare, and also to 
the glory of the Most High; lor God, who is over all and 
blessed forevermore. is a jealous God and will never permit 
his glory to pass from him, neither will he give it to another. 

10 



114 THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 

In consequence therefor* 3 , of His Omnipotence, the devil, his 
adversary, can never rob him — ah hough he is a robber and 
murderer — but will always ht* confounded, overthrown, and 
trampled under as he was when in the glory of Heaven he 
essayed to be as the Most High, when he became the vilest 
of all creation; the father of Irs, sin, and iniquity, and all 
abomination and crime; and the Lord God bound him in 
chains of ignorance and darkness, and cast him out into the 
earth, and here on earth he has been the cause of all this es- 
trangement from our heavenly Father, contempt of his word, 
and consequently, misery and wretchedness of poor, frail 
human nature; darkness and blindness, and death temporal, 
as well as spiritual and eternal. 

O how much more awful would have been the state of our 
forefathers and also ours, had not our blessed God promised 
a Saviour immediately after the fall' had he not sent Him 
to our relief in due time as predicted; had not Jesus passed 
to and fro among us, as a physician, to alleviate our misery, 
to cleanse us from the leprosy of sin and iniquity; for when 
we were dead in tresspasser and crime, the blessed Lord ap- 
peared among us to prepare a balm to heal our wounds; to 
cause the blind to see, the lame to walk, the possessed of dev- 
ils to rejoice in God, and to raise the dead to life. Christ 
was emphatically the light of the world; the day-spring from 
on High, to those who satin the shadow of death; the glori- 
ous Sun of Righteousness to illuminate the dark places of 
the earth; to shine into the hearts where cruel devils had their 
habitation, and cause them to flee before his presence; then 
imparted his miraculous grace, illuminated the souls and un- 
derstandings, and erected his temple of holiness in their 
hearts, and shrine of praise in their bi casts, and sinners could 
leap, rejoice and praise God; who were before blind, lame, 
impotent, and deaf and dumb. 

As by one man sin entered int^ the world, and death by sin, 
so by one man, Christ Jesus came also salvation; righteous- 
ness and holiness, love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost; 



THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 115 

eternal life; the promise of the life that now is, and of that 
whi< h is to come; through faith in Him as a Prince and a 
Saviour, in whom alone is remission of sins, justification, 
sanctification, and t-vei lasting hfe : who is indubitably "the 
Way, the Truth and the Life;" and none can ever come unto 
the Father but by him, for our blessed God sent him into the 
world to become a propitiation thereof, so that "He might 
be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." 

It is evident that by faith we are made wlrole, even saved 
from our sins; to live and move and have our being in holi- 
ness in Christ, " Wlio is the resurrection and the life, and 
whosoever believeth in Him though he were dead yet shall 
he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth on Him shall 
never die." As therefore faith, and only faith, brings the 
blessings from above, the astonishing miracles which Christ 
wrought, were thus awarded to those who had confidence in 
and believingly came unto Him, craving the boon which 
they stood in need of to increase their comfort in this life, 
and some for their eternal well-being, and none that ever 
came thus were ever sent empty away by the blessed Em- 
manuel, but had their wishes gratified, and thus this blind 
man received his sight : 

Stupendous miracles are wrought, 

And water into wine does flowj 
At the Omnipotence of his word 

The lame are heal'd in soundness go. 

Behold the blind their sight receive, 

The lepers cleans'd and freed from stain, 
The possess'd of devils does relieve, 

And deaf to hear restores again. 

The sick and the dying he heals, 

And to life again the dead does call, 
Thus his power divine reveals, 

And with compassion looks on all. 

O mark his virtue at the tomb, 

Of him with whom he was intimate, 
OverpowerM and weeping, cries, •♦come!" 

Behold dead Lazarus' whole made* 



1 16 THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT, 

The blessed Saviour constrained by Infinite love, sojourn- 
ed as a stranger and pilgrim on the earth to befriend poor, 
wretched sinners, to do them good;io become their Redeem- 
er, and also to glorify Gocl the Father, in whom the works 
which he did were wrought; as he informed firs disciples, 
that his doings might be made manifest, and that for this 
purpose this man was born blind, and that it was not on ac- 
count of the sins of his parents, although sin and iniquity 
are the primary cause of all blindness, distortion, disease, 
and death. 

It appears that our blessed Lord made an ointment of clay 
moistened by his spittle, and put it on the eyes of the blind 
man and commanded him to go and wash in the pool of Si- 
loam; he went as he was bid by the Lord, washed m the 
pool and came seeing. His neighbors were greatly astonish- 
ed, knowing that he had been blind from his birth. "There- 
fore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?" — 
JHe informed them by saying that, "A man that is called 
Jesus, made clay and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, 
Go to the pool of >iloam, and wash T and 1 went and washed, 
and 1 received sight." 

Jesus after having anointed his eyes, passed on his way to 
administer to others, progressing in his mission towards its fi- 
nal accomplishment, when be should bruise the devil's filthy 
head, break the chains of hell, and set the captives free; when 
he should accomplish full salvation, by his atonement on 
Calvan, by satisfying divine justice on the cross; behold him 
on Calvary's heights, his tender hands and feet pierced by 
rugged nails; thus pinioned to the accursed tree, he hangs be- 
tween heaven and earth amid the vilest of the vile- amid mur- 
derers — and he himself accused as viler still, although inno- 
cent and holy, and without guile in his mouth; with love, pity, 
and compassion, he looks down upon his enemies; his perse- 
cutors, blasphemers, and his murderers, and prays, "Father 
forgive them for they know not what they do. 11 O that vou 
would contemplate the sufferings he endured, that you would 



THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 117 

behold the great change in his countenance in consequence 
of the agony he is in for your sins; yea for your sins he then ag- 
onises and groans inspirit. O the awful, the terrible death he 
endures for you;0 shall his unbounded, boundless love, his 
dying love, avail nothing with you miserable wreched sinners 
just on the brink of hell, ready lo drop into the pit prepared 
for the devil and the damned, from the foundation of the 
world? Shall 1 repeat, has his holy, angelic, god-like, dying 
love, which induced him to come to your relief so that you 
might not die, but live, avail you nothing? will you remain 
in your hard, impenitent state, your dreadful aversion of ho- 
liness; of a life of Godliness, your very hatred of God and 
his words, while he does all for your conversion, for your de- 
liverance from the bondage of the devil and his filthiness, 
and from death and hell; will you still continue to resist the 
blessed God in his merciful and indescribable efforts to save 
you from being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone; do 
despite to his holy spirit of grace, to apply the blood of Je- 
sus, to cleans" you (rom your sins; behold how it flows in 
healing streams from his hands and side, and feet and head* 
O how precious it is to cleanse from all sins, as all know 
who walk in holiness with God; and O will you, O wretched 
creatures, will you trample this holy, this sanctified blood of 
the Lamb of God under foot, and like stubborn swine and 
dogs run headlong into hell ! O how can you be so ungrate- 
ful to yourselves, your poor dying souls, and yonr Maker's 
love, who also wishes to be your Saviour, to pluck you as 
brands from everlasting burnings! How can you be thus 
unfeeling? your hearts be like the nether millstone, against . 
the love, the mercy, and the goodness of our beloved God; 
not knowing that his goodness has a tendency to lead you to 
repentance, but go on in your folly and madness, until like 
Dives, you are brought to feel for your poor souls in hell, al- 
though you never could this side of it 

God is essentially Love, as is abundantly manifest thro' 
this, his atonement on calvary, in the character of his only 



m THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 

begotten Son Emmanuel, and also in many works wrought 
previous, and since, to convince sinners that he had no de- 
light in their death, hut rather that they would repent and 
live. "Turn ye, Turn ye, for why will ye die," is the lan- 
guage of Jehovah, constrained by Divine Love, and made 
manifest to poor d3 r ing sinners, to warn you to flee from the 
wrath to come; to work out your soul's salvation ere death 
puts a period to your mortal being; ere you are cut down as 
the grass, and your glory perishes as the flower thereof; ere 
you are summoned out of time into a never, no never ending 
eternity; ere you are called to the bar of Christ, the Judge 
of all the earth, so that you be not doomed by him to end- 
less perdition; be expelled from the presence of His glory 
and Majesty forever and ever, into the place prepared for 
foul spirits, for devils, where neither love nor peace can pos- 
sibly exist, for devils cannot love, neither is there any peace 
for them nor the wicked, says Almighty God; for those who 
have their delight in all manner of abominations, who d ink 
down iniquity as an ox drinks down water; who revel in 
darkness and things pertaining to death; who commit the 
grossest crimes, and are not sorry for their hellish deeds, but 
have the effrontery and impudence to glory in their shame, 
presumptiously mock God in his glory, and uiouthe the very 
heavens; children of darkness who shun the light like the 
owl, lest their robberies, their murders, their whoredomsr 
their witchcrafts, their workings with familiar spirits, their 
drunkenness, their abusing each others bodies by the hellish 
abominations and infernal inventions of filthy devils, their 
adulteries, their fornications, their extortion,and other crimes. 
1 say who shun the light lest their doings of darkness and 
death be made manifest and reproved, and who harden their 
hearts and stiffen their necks, lest they become converted 
and Christ should heal them; who love darkness rather than 
light because their deeds are evil; whose conscience's are 
seared as with an hot iron; to whom blindness has happened 
and who wallow in filth as swine in the mire; the odours of 



THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 119 

tfaeir abominations ascends up continually unto the throne 
of the Eternal, and offends the nostrils of Jehovah; in con- 
sequence of whose wrath —for God is angry with the wicked 
every day — "their destruction lingereth not, and their dam- 
nation slumbereth not." Such a people as above pervaded 
the earth at the time of our blessed Saviour, they hardened 
their hearts, stiffened their necks, and shut their eyes — that 
is blinded their understanding, lest they should be brought 
to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, whom they per 
secuted from city to city, and would have none of his re- 
proofs, nor admonitions, denying that he was the predicted 
Emmanuel — God with us — and his prerogative of the !Yles- 
siahsbip; his exalte 1 commission from the Majesty on High, 
from Jehovah, "to heal the broken-hearted, liberate the cap- 
tives, set the prisoners free, proclaim the acceptable year of 
the Lord, and comfort the mourners in Sion; to give them 
beauty for ashes, the od of joy lor mourning, the garment of 
praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called 
trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he 
might be glorified. Notwithstanding all the exertions of our 
ado able Lord to enlighten the people, for saith he, " As 
long as I am in the world I am the light of the world." — 
Darkness remained covering the earth, and gross darkness 
the people — inflated with pride and ambition., the leaders 
were ever busy inflaming by their conversation 
multitude to acts of ungratefulness against the giver of 
every good and perfectgift; who now sojourned among them 
in human form, although Divine in his nature, to effect the 
salvation of the world. Stupendous miracles were wrought 
to alleviate the wretchedness of men; it was also apparent 
from all his works that they were from above, and no one 
could open the eyes of the blind unless he was from God; 
but they denied the Divinity of Christ, u Therefore said they 
unto him, How were thine eyes opened?" 

Jesus having finished his course; having ended his mission 
on earth; having accomplished salvation for the worlds and 



120 THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 

having assumed his Eternal Glory in Heaven, from whpre he 
rules the Universe and from whence he dispenses blessings 
temporal and spiritual, salvation and remission of sins to all 
that come unto him; and from whence he calls upon all men 
every where to repent, to do away all evil from before his 
glorious eyes, to work out their souls salvation while it is day 
ere eternal darkness and death comes upon tnem, ere they 
are turned into hell, to make their calling and election sure, 
so as to escape the evil which shall come upon all the earth 
to try men's souls; when the righteous shall be received into 
the joy of our Lord, and the wicked destroyed by his fury 
from the earth and the presence of his glory 

"O ye blind straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel;" 
"ye blind leaders of the blind," why will ye not turn ere ye 
ali fall into the ditch? why will ye not repent and live? Turn 
ye, Turn ye, for why will ye die? Repent, repent, the king- 
dom of heaven is at hand ! " How were thine eyes opened?" 
is a question which the spiritual blind would do well to ask 
of those who had their understandings, their souls, through 
Jesus illuminated by the sanctifying influences of the Holy 
Spirit, applying his merit and righteousness for our regener- 
ation, sanctification, and redemption; of us who have been 
thus reconciled to God and his holy image, and now have 
the mark of Christ upon our foreheads; give evidence that 
we have been with Jesus, been taught of him; have Christ 
in us the hope of glory, and are not ashamed to suffer re- 
proach and persecution for his Name's sake. They would 
do well to ask, "What must we do to be saved?" and all 
the Sainis of the Ylost High God will admonish them to re- 
pent of all their sins and to believe in Jesus, so that the day- 
star arise in their hearts, and the day spring to give light to 
them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to 
cause the mist and the darkness to disappear, and their un- 
derstandings to become enlightened, so that the glorious Sun 
of Righteousness may illuminate their pathway, and they be 
brought to see clearly that they have been fools and slaves 



THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 121 

of hell all their lives, and now have found life, light, love, joy 
and peace in him of whom the prophets spake, even in Je- 
sus the author, finisher and re warder of faith. 
He answered and said, A man that is called Jesvs, made clay, 

and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of 

Siloam and wash: and I uent and washed, and I received 

sight. 

Now, this man Jesus, spoken of by this poor man that 
had been blind, has opened a fountain from whence flow re- 
pentance and forgiveness of sins, a fountain much more effi- 
cacious than the pool of Siloam was at the moving of the 
waters by the Angel of the Lord, which descended at certain 
seasons for that purpose, so that he that first stepped into the 
water was healed of whatsoever disease or plague he was 
opp essed with. Hut the atonement of Jesus, the fountain 
of ever-living waters, is not only possessed of healing virtues 
at certain seasons, but at all times the restoring qualities are 
apparent, and sinners aie invited to plunge into the purple 
stream and be purified from all iniquity; that is, repent to 
God, and have faith in Jesus Christ and his blood, which 
cleanses from all sin. 

Perfect salvation is therefore attainable, and sinners may 
escape damnation if they will apply the remedy. God and 
his true ambassadors will clear themselves of their blood; if 
they die in their sins be their blood upon their own heads. — 
God has done his part to all nations from the beginning of 
the world, and will do so to the end of time, and swears 
" As I live, 1 have no pleasure in the death of sinners, but 
rather tliat they repent and live." Jehovah therefore, calls 
upon all men, everywhere, to make their peace with him; "to 
come and reason with him, and their sins, though they were 
as scarlet, shall become white as snow; and though they are 
as crimson, shall become white as wool." I, as the ambas- 
sador of the High and Holy God, make these things known 
unto you, and warn you to flee from the wrath to come, "for 
your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your 



122 THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 

agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing 
scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down 
by it; for the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim; he 
shall bj wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do 
his work, his stiange work, and bring to pass his acts, his 
strange acts. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your 
bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God 
of Hosts, a consumption, even determined upon the whole 
earth." [Isaiah, 27th. chap. 

The Lord Jesus made an ointment of clay and command- 
ed the blind to go and wash; he did so and received his sight. 
Jesus has also accomplished salvation for the whole World; 
there is therefore now a balm in Gilead, there is a physician 
there, and all are also commanded to cnme to him to be 
healed, that they may see, hear, understand, be holy, and 
live. But say some, if Christ died for the sins of the whole 
world, then all will be saved, and there is no more condem- 
nation to the wicked, and all will enter through the strait 
gate into heaven — swine and dogs along with the holy saints, 
these infidels would have it. i\ay verily, but you are aw- 
fully deceived by your Father the devil, whose habitation 
you are; he speaks through you. Impossible! what! the ha- 
ters of God and the persecutors of his dear children, his 
Saints, from city to city, until their life's blood is worried 
out of them, live together in a never-ending eternity! impos- 
sible! in a place too where all righteousness, holiness, and 
glory abound, where the Holy God, Jehovah, is enthroned, 
who can never, no never bear iniquity, and where holy an- 
gels minister unto him in His courts of Glory; worshipping 
and praising, and before whose effulgence the Cherubims 
and Seraphims veil their fa( es, worshipping and singing, Ho- 
ly, Holy, Holy, Art thou Lord God Almighty, who was, and 
is to come; great and marvellous are thy works, just and true 
are thy ways, thou King of Saints; Hallelujah, the Lord 
God Omnipotent reigneth. Again, I repeat it, impossible 
that the vile, the abominable, the unbeliever, the scoffer at 



THE BLIND RESTOIt D TO SIGHT. 123 

God's word, the adulterer, the fornicator, the whoremonger, 
and the more filthy than swine, the beastly buggurer, the mur- 
derer, the robber, the drunkard, the extortioner, the witch- 
craft workers, the dealer with familiar spirit?, with devils, 
which were cast out. of heaven; to the end of the list of evil 
doers of one class or another* Never! no never!! But 
they shall all be destroyed with an everlasting destruction, 
from the face of the whole earth, and with their Father the 
devil, and all the apostate spirits, be cast into the lake of fire 
and brimstone, where the worm dieth not and the fire is nev- 
er quenched, and where there shall be weeping and wailing, 
and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. 

How dreadfully dark and benighted the understandings of 
the people ar^ all ovei the world in this present century; 
averse to all that has a tendency to impart true wisdom and 
understanding, refinement and exaltation of soul, are given 
to all filthy lewdness. Even this nation, the most highly 
favored under heaven, has become, on account of the abom- 
inations of the people, a stink in Jehovah's nostiils, a huge 
dunghill of iniquity, therefore the following texts are very 
applicable to them, " Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch 
as this people draw near me with their mouth, with their 
lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, 
and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men— 
Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work and 
a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and 
the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Wo 
unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, 
and their works are in the dark, and they say, W r ho seeth 
us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things up- 
side down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay; for shall the 
work say of him that made it, He made me not! or shall the 
thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no under- 
standing. " And while the Lord calls for mourning and repent- 
ance, the following texts apply pretty closely, " Behold joy, 
and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh and 



124 THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 

drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall 
die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, 
surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, 
saith the Lord of Hosts." [Isaiah.] 

u Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, 
but woe unto him that striveth with his maker." Thus saith 
the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel; 4i Ah 
1 will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine 
enemies." 

The salvation of Jesus avails nothing to those who are the 
enemies of his cross, who are the rebellious children, ever 
learning and never abl •» to come to the knowledge of the 
truth, speaking evil of vital Christianity, and the powers of 
true Godliness, which are a mystery to them; but what they 
know naturally as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt 
themselves. "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the 
way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Baalam for 
reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Cire. Raging 
waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering 
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." 
Nay verily, all they that trample under foot the words and 
blood of our dear Saviour, cannot reasonably expect to be 
cleansed from their filth. Suppose you were sick — as you 
really all are that are unconverted — according to the gospel, 
"impotent, lame and blind, and naked;" and a celebrated 
physician had a remedy that might, under the blessing of 
God, restore you to soundness, but for hatred against the 
physician, or some other cause, you will not call upon him 
for his cureall, you will not knock at his door to be relieved 
from your malady, and when he brings the medicine, or sends 
it to you, you trample it under foot instead of applying it as 
per his directions, you cannot certainly expect to be bene- 
fitted by it in restoring you to health; exactly so it is in the 
case o( your salvation, you are diseased sinners, you are all 
dying mortals, and the blessed Christ is continually calling 
upon you to have faith in him, to knock at his merciful door 



THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. 125 

and it should be opened, to ask and you should receive free 
salvation, without money and price; be restored to soundness 
of mind and soul, so as to enjoy the blessedness of heaven, 
sweet communion with our blessed, Heavenly Father, and 
thus partly experience the peace and bliss of our brethren, 
the Holy Angels, and in due time be numbered with them in 
Jehovah's Glory, to serve, adore and praise him forever and 
ever. The blind man had to go as he was bid and wash; he 
did so and received his sight, and so will every one receive 
remission of sins that humbles himself, and does according 
to the words of Christ, and his true ambassadors. Proud Na- 
man,aslongas he remained stubborn, as long as he stiffened 
his neck, his leprosy remained upon him, but when he hum- 
bled himself and did as he was commanded he became pu- 
rified, free from his disease; but had he not obeyed, he would 
have died in his filth; and so shall it be with every one of 
you; repent and live; disregard the call and you perish ever- 
lastingly, and be doomed into the lake of fire and brimstone. 
O, I therefore now warn you to be wise, to flee to the out- 
stretched arms of mercy, extended by Jesus whose Hood 
cleanses from all sins; to make your peace speedily with 
God, who wishes you well, who desires that you should be 
saved through the bloody sweat and agony of Jesus; which 
his boundless love caused him to endure for your soul's sal- 
vation, and who has no pleasure in your death, but rather 
that you would repent to God, have a vital faith in him 
and live. May hundreds and thousands yet in the eleventh 
hour, find forgiveness of sins, and be saved through Jesus. — 
and may all my brethren in Christ find abundance of re- 
freshings from the presence of the Lord, whose "grace, may 
it be sufficient for our day," and "his strength be made per- 
fect in our w^akriessf' and we may thus glorify his name, 
and depart rejoicing in our God and Saviour; have part in 
the first resurrection, and after the judgment morning inherit 
the New Heavens and New Earth, with the Holy Angels, 
and all the Redeemed from the earth, to worship God in his 
glory, sing his praise forever and ever. Amen and Amen. 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, cover eth it with a ves- 
sel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, 
that they which enter in may see the light. 
For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest ; neither 

anything hid that shall not be known, and come abroad. 
Take heed therefore, how ye hear : for whosoever hath, to him 
shall be given ; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be 
taken even that which he seemeth to have. 

[Luke, 8th Chop, \Qlh, Mth fy 18/A verses. 
Id this world of sin and darkness, where day and night 
reign alternately, artificial lights are absolutely necessary, 
for the convenience of man, and for the comfort and happi- 
ness of society ; our blessed Saviour, therefore, refers to the 
lighting of a candle, and of placing it upon a candlestick, 
not hiding it under a bed, that those entering in may see the 
light. How much more miserable would the state of the 
human family be, were it not for this blessing from Him, from 
whom comes every good and perfect gift, the Father of light 
and glory. In Lapland, and other parts of the world, the 
people would be in almost total darkness — the sun shining 
upon them only a few hours a day, while darkness reigns 
predominant — the melancholy and forlorn state of the in- 
habitants dwelling in those regions may be easily imagined, 
even with the means and use of artificial light, their condi- 
tion must be wretched in the extreme ; and to add to this 
temporal, external night, the internal, the spiritual darkness 
of their souls, without a ray of hght from the Eternal re- 
gions of Glory — as was the case until lately — to brighten up 
the prospects of a more glorious state after this was ended. 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 127 

But within late years the glorious gospel light dawned upon 
those henighted people, and the Day Spring from on High, 
to enlighten them thai sit in the shadow of death; conse- 
quently, the Day Star arose in many hearts, and illuminated 
many understandings, so that they now have joy and rejoic- 
ing in the glorious Sun ot ttighteousness, our blessed Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ, in the knowledge of the remission 
of sins through him, in being reconciled to the holy Image 
of Jehovah, who is not ashamed to be their Father, and 
honor them even above many of christian nations — so called 
— who, while they have the light will not walk therein, that 
they may be children of light, but love darkness rather than 
light because of their evil deeds ; their abominations and 
crime. 

Christ, in whom shone the glory of our Heavenly Father, 
" was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh 
into the world ;" yea verily, for there is no other light than 
his in the whole Universe: when he said, " let their be light," 
while in the act of creating all things, and darkness held do- 
minion, immediately, the resplendent Sun reflected his glory, 
with the milder moon ; planets, and comets, and stars innu- 
merable ; all dazzling in splendor and brilliancy, exhibiting 
the effulgent glory and singing the praise of theii great Cre- 
ator, who is all " Light, and in Him there is no darkness 
at all ;" in the perfection of His glory in heaven, no gloom 
or darkness can possibly exist ; the glorious Ch< rubims and 
Seraphims veil their faces, while worshipping in Jehovah's 
glory, and the Holy Angels are all glorious as suns and stars; 
and as lor human beings, they could not behold with their 
eyes of flesh the one thousandth part thereof, for none can 
behold God, as he is, and live. 

The blessed Christ, when here below, was emphatically 
the light of the world; for sa%s he himself, " v* hile I am in 
the world 1 am the light of the world;" 1 therefore, forwarn 
you all to beware of false lights, whether directly from the 
devil, the old beast and infernal conjurur, through his magic 



128 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

and witchcraft-workings, or whether by men, who pretend to 
reflect the light and glory of the Deity, but are wolves in 
sheep's clothing ; by scrutinizing them a little you will easily 
discern their hypocrasy, for they cannot bear to be examin- 
ed closely, particularly by the chosen of the Lord, because 
of the perniciousness of their fruit, " for," as it is written, 
" by their fruits ye shall know them ;" be ye, therefore, not 
deceived, 1 caution you, be ye not deceived by them, for the 
scripture says expressly that in the last days there shall be 
many such abroad, and that if possible, they would deceive 
the " very elect ;*' by looking at men and things how do you 
conclude as respects the indication of the present times ; 
earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars and rumors of wars ; 
men's hearts failing them for fear, and by beholding the 
things that are coming upon the earth ; there shall be a great 
falling off in the church, and it shall be as at the time of 
Noah and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah ; and are 
not these signs predominent now, and the abominations and 
crimes perpetrated by the people like unto those of the old 
world, and particularly of Sodom and Gomorah. 

Our adorable Saviour while going about doing good to 
the children of men, healing their sick, restoring their blind, 
cleansing their leapers, liberating their possessed of devils, 
thus setting the captives free, preaching the acceptable year 
of the Lord and urging men to repentance, to a holy walk 
and conversaiion, to have faith in him as the true Messiah 
and only Saviour, thus have the promise of the life that now 
is and that which is to come, for says he, " None cometh 
unto the Father but by me." "In him," therefore, "was 
Life, and the Life was the Light of men;" and the light 
shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." 
Yea, verily, darkness covered the earth and gross darkness 
the people, who indulged in all manner of idolatries, were 
given to bigotry and superstition ; alienated from a life of 
godliness; living without hope and without God in the 
w 7 0ild ; who were strangers to the covenant of promise ; 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 129 

self willed, perverse and stiff necked ; whose hearts were as 
adamant or the " nether millstone ;" who went about estab- 
lishing their own righteousness in the face of the glorious 
Sun of Righteousness, who was now sojourning upon and 
illuminating the earth ; but these deluded creatures of dark- 
ness could not comprehend nor understand the wisdom of 
God in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ; O the riches both 
of the love and wisdom of God, in sending his only begotten 
Son to atone for the sins of the world. 

Notwithstanding his miraculous deeds, his heavenly les- 
sons, his instructions in the way of life, enlightening the dark 
souls of men which sat in the region and shadow of death; 
his deeds thus wrought in God reflecting his glory produced 
a fame which could not be suppressed, but spread into all 
lands. Notwithstanding I repeat, all his virtues thus made 
manifest, the world knew him not, and "He came unto his 
own and his own received him not." " But as many as 
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of 
God, even to them that believe on his name. 1 ' 

All christians are compared to lights : " ye are the lights 
of the world," says our blessed Saviour, and " let your light 
so shine before men that they may see your good works 
and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Some chris- 
tians may be compared to suns, others to stars of greater or 
less magnitude, shining and reflecting the glory of their God 
and Saviour, in love to him and our fellow men, in keeping 
his commandments, and worshipping Jehovah in the bauties 
of holiness, attributing all the praise to him, who is God over 
all, blessed forevermore ; in bringing forth fruit unto holi- 
ness, thirty, sixty and an hundred fold. We are likewise, 
"the excellent oi the earth and the salt of the earth;" let 
us, therefore, walk worthy of our high and holy calling, re- 
deeming the time for the days are evil, not minding the 
things of time, which are perishable, but those more endu- 
ring which pertain to eternal life. " For all flesh is as grass 
and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field, the grass 

11 



130 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

withers, the flower thereof fadeth away, but the word of the 
Lord endureth forever/' O that we may always have a 
living faith in our blessed God, the Rock of our Salvation, 
and tremble to disobey his words and commandments, but by 
keeping them, evince our love to our Heavenly Father, as 
our blessed Saviour says : "He that hath my command- 
ments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; and he 
that loveth me, shall be loved of my Fa'.her, and I will hwe 
him, and will manifest myself to him," St. John, 14th chap. 
We are, therefore, the temples of the Holy Ghost, let us 
walk unblamably in holiness with God as our br-thren be- 
fore us also did, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Elijah 
and David and all the other prophets and glorious Apostles 
of the Lamb, and the noble company of Saints and Martyrs 
who suffered for his name's sake and testified to the truth 
as it is in Jesus, and who ended their course with joy and 
are now rejoicing in the blessedness of heaven. O that we 
may tread the paths of peace and holiness, that our delight 
be more and more in God, and to meditate in his word to 
be, through faith in Jesus, refreshed from his immediate 
presence, so that by the accompanying duties of fastings, 
prayer and praise, our souls may always be as watered gar- 
dens; as cities on hills and lights that cannot be hid, eleva- 
ted through Jesus, into high and heavenly places, reflecting 
at all times and in all places the glory of our dear Saviour; 
that the language of our hearts may be at all times like 
unto our brother St. Paul's : " for us to live is Christ and to 
die is gain," and " that we would rather be absent from the 
body and present with the Lord, and finally, "that we have 
fought the good fight, have finished our course, have kept the 
faith." " Henceforth there is laid up for us a crown of 
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall 
give us at that day : and not to us only, but unto all them 
also that love his appearing." May we be thus prepared 
with the loins of our minds girded, our lamps with oil sup- 
plied, trimmed and ready to meet our glorious Heavenly 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 131 

Bridegroom, to enter with the Holy Angels and all the re- 
deemed Saints, into the marriage supper of the Lamb, and 
sing with them the high praises of our blessad God and 
Saviour, forever and ever. 

The above refers to individual members of Christ's church, 
descriptions of the luminaries contributing to her glory, and 
are the real glory of nations, that which is esteemed and 
appreciated in the courts of light on high, by the King of 
Glory, Jehovah, who is all glorious and attended by minis- 
ters reflecting his splendor ; their heaven is the perfection 
of grandeur, pomp and dignity, majesty and glory, where no 
darkness at all exists, but indescribable dazzling brilliancy; 
righteousness, holiness and eternal glory, therefore the earth- 
ly glory of nations is nothing, less then vanity in comparison 
to the perfection ot beauty displayed in the third heavens 
where the Deity is perfect, where the King of Kings is en- 
throned and holds his ievees ; where the God of battles has 
his shining hosts all in glorious array, where the Cherubims 
and Seraphims, Angels and Arch-Angels, together with hosts 
oi Saints and Martyrs, are attending on Jehovah in his re- 
splendent glory; the nearer the nations of the world approach 
the splendor on high the more exalted they are, as the Most 
High is all light, lustre and glory, and apart from Him is all 
darkness; the sun, moon and stars which illuminate the earth 
reflect only part of the blessed God's glory, and was it not 
for this we should be in utter darkness, therefore all the na- 
tions of the earth combined cannot compete with the glory 
of the Lord God, they are absolutely insignificant and can- 
not possibly pretend thereunto, except only by practicing 
righteousness and holiness, for all their other gaudiness, 
show, and trappings are perishable as the fading leaf of 
autumn and their glory disappears as the misty cloud of 
the morning, their fleshly bodies turn to corruption and their 
never dying souls descend into the never ending gulph of 
despair and torment, where darkness reigns supreme and 
foul demons have their habitation. 



1S2 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

Thus the lying vanities of earthly nations are disposed of 
by Jehovah — who reigns supreme — from the presence of his 
gli .y; the souls and bodies of Kings and Ciueeus, Lords r 
b*^i> Captains and mighty men; high and low, rich and poor 
indiscriminately into the bottomless pit, for God is uo res- 
pecter of persons; u the soul that sinneth it shall die. 1 * The 
greater number of true christians, the lights of the world, 
among the nations of the earth, the greater also the heaven- 
ly radia, and therefore by consequence the nation having the 
the largest number of the most devoted and zealous men in 
tl e cause of Christ, of the most righteous and holy champi- 
ons for the truth; heroes to fight the battles of the Lord; — 
"Curse ye, curse ye bitterly the inhabiters of Vleroz, because 
tl h y come not up to fight the battles ot the Lord;— -the bat- 
tles of the Lord against the >V1jghty." Christ, our blessed 
S.iv iour, inculcates mercy and that we should pray for our 
enemies; I introduce therefore, the above cur&e not to bear 
particularly upon this nation, but to put persons in mind 
that the battles of their souls and for the glory of our blessed 
Heavenly Father are the most impoitant. The nalion 

numbering in this respect, lias some cause to boast 

01 and to glory and recei\e the approbation of the Lord 
of Hosts; while those that make earthly things their pride, 
glory in their shame and are an abomination in the sight of 
heaven, and less than the small dust of the ballance, and 
lighter than vanity. 

The champions of the cross, the true lights of this nations, 
seem to be very few in number, and far, very far apart, al* 
though the land is lull of churches, and churchgoing people, 
but when you examine them closely you will find the greatest 
number to be like unto the Jack-o-lanthorn, or mysterious 
lights arising from marshes r all deception, and whose glory em- 
anates from the bottomless pit: the real fact is, they have none 
are under the control of the old deceiver, Satan, and conse- 
quently hate the Father of light and glory, from whom com- 
eth every good and perfect gift; because of their evil deeds 
and works of darkness, they ever shun the light, lest their 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT, 135 

deeds should be made manifest and reproved; therefore, per- 
sons at a distance are often misled, and made to believe that 
this and that nation are truly refined and exalted, when 
alas, their righteousness and holiness is but too much like 
the chaff of the mid-summer's threshing floor, which the 
wind drives away ; it is all a fictitious fabrication, like unto 
filthy rays, akin to theirs who slew the "Lord our Righteous- 
ness," and can never be approved of by him who is altogeth- 
er Holy, and commands all men every where to repent 
and be Holy as he is Holy, and whose eyes are as flames of 
fire ; it is therefore impossible to mock or deceive him with 
a foreign article, with self-righteouness, and finally enter his 
kingdom by saying, " Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy 
name, we have cast out devils in thy name, and done many 
wonderful works," when he shall reply and say, "I never 
knew you, depart from me all ye workers of iniquity, into 
the lake of fire and brimstone, prepared for the devil and his 
angels, from the foundation of the world." 

For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest ; neither 
anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 

The disgraceful deeds, the humiliating acts, to human 
nature, which filthy sinners have the baseness to commit 
with one another in the dark, although apart "from the ex- 
cellent of the earth," and obscured from mortal sight, from 
those that are " the lights of the world ;" yet they are sur- 
veyed by the Eye of Omniscience, by the Eye of Him with 
whom we have to do, and who seeth into the dark cham- 
bers of the earth, who is every where present; yea, the Holy 
God beholds the midnight murderer with his hands imbued 
in blood, and hears the screams of the innocent victim that 
fell his prey; the brutish drunkard in his night revellings at 
some brothel, while his wife and children are neglected and 
in want, he only too often spends their hard earnings togeth- 
er with his own, and then insults and beats them about like 
a foul demon; the yet more beastly buggurer at his dirty work, 



134 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

disgracing human nature by his low, filthy operations ; dis- 
gusting the nostrils of Jehovah who is every where present,, 
and although he may think no one knows it or sees him, yet 
his abomination shall be made manifest ; to all these, worse 
than beastly creatures, 1 would say, yet not 1 but the Lord 
in me, remember Sodom and Gomorrah ; the unprincipled 
adulterer, destroyer of domestic peace, family comlort and 
happiness, by defiling his neighbour's wife, who was esteemed 
sacred to him before God and man; the fornicator and vile 
seducer of virgin innocence, by his sly artifices ruining for 
life the fair prospects of many a one, who like a lovely flow- 
er, amiable and sweet as the lilley, and that might have been 
the joy of her parents and afforded many happ;y hours of An- 
gelic bliss to a kind husband, is thus blasted in her early 
bloom and doomed to wither and decay, and end her days 
in despair, surely a just God will speediiy bang such wretch- 
es to account ; the robber and the thief, who too lazy to earn 
an honest livelihood, rob the sojourning stranger and plunder 
their neighbour's houses ; the gambler at his midnight board, 
surrounded by his brethren, think they have excluded them- 
selves lrom all eyes, not reflecting that there is one which 
scans the nethermost parts of the earth and hell, which they 
cannot possibly escape, for God looks throughout all worlds 
and beholds the minutest objects in the most distart part of 
the Universe, let them dread his vengeance ; the oppressor ; 
the extortioner ; the spoiler of widows and orphans; the pro- 
fane swearer and Sabbath-breaker, with many other abomi- 
nable crimes which men commit openly and in secret, they 
shall all be made manifest, for the mouth of the Lord hath 
spoken it. And last though not least, but of enormous mag- 
nitude, the witchcraft worker and dealer with familiar spirits, 
who is in direct intercourse with the spirits of hell and 
darkness, in league with the devil, the greatest enemy of his 
soul, yet he puts himself upon a level with him, and has con- 
tinual communion with these foul spirits to annoy and tor- 
ment his fellow-beings, and commit all manner of filty lewd- 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 135 

ness, abominations and whoredoms, and thinks he is secure 
in secretly co-working with there infernal demons, yet his 
works of darkness shall be known, and his nasty deeds shall 
come abroad. 

But when a nation is. thus degraded lhat 1 his last crime 
is considered as wisdom, and esteemed rather an accom- 
plishment than otherwise, so that the children of parents are 
instructed in this hellish "black art" and the whole country 
is enshrined in its infernal and pernicous influences, v\hen a 
nation has become thus beastly, like unto the Sodomites lost 
to all decency and shame, committing iniquity with greedi- 
ness, and glorying in their shame, having put the lear of God 
away from before them, from out of their hearts, trample 
under his holy words and commandments, and the laws of 
tht'ir own country, which no doubt good men, under the in- 
fluence of the Holy God, have framed for the punishment 
of evil-doers, and preservation of th* j peace, comfort, and 
happiness of the people, it requin s but little sagacsty to be 
convinced that their downfall is near at hand, and a just God 
will avenge himself upon a nation like this. The following 
therefore may not b^ much amiss, "Wherefore hear the 
word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people, 
because ye have said, We have made a covenant with 
death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the over- 
flowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto 
us: for w T e have made him our refuge, and under falsehood 
have we hid ourselves; and your covenant with death shall 
be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; 
when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye 
shall be trodden down by it. From the time that it goeth 
forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass 
over; by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to 
understand the report." [Isaiah, 28th chap.] 



136 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath, to him 
shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be 
taken even that which he seemeth to have. 
As in the beginning part of this discourse, so here again, 1 
caution you to beware of "-false lights ;" for all men have not 
a living faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour, and Media- 
tor, but give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, 
according to the written word of our dear Lord, that so it 
should be in the last days ; it is stamped upon the features 
of the times, and their indication is, that veriiy we an 1 in 
them now, and that this is the period to try men's souls — \ ord 
Jesus be merciful — when all the world have gone astray, 
have gone a whoreing, with strange inventions — with familiar 
spirits — are therefore on the side of the devil, in league with 
legions of these wicked spirits, and in open rebellion and war 
against the Lord of Hosts, who will, in due time, bring all 
their pride, their pomp and their glory, unto the dung heap 5 
and " the abomination and the mouse shall be destroyed to- 
gether;" hell from beneath, is opening wide her mouth, and 
all the wicked, with the nations that forget God, with their 
Father the devil, and all his legions in the air, shall de- 
scend into it forever and ever. Take heed therefore how ye 
hear. " Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word 
of God," very many are fon*l of novelty, in these times, have 
an ambi ion to create a fame for themselves and families at 
the hazard of their souls, and the ill effects upon society, 
upon their fellow beings, who suffer themselves to be lead 
about by them, which it is to be feared too many Ho, having 
itching ears for something new; to all such the text applies 
particularly, u Take heed how ye hear," keep yourselves to 
sound doctrine ; the doctrine once delivered to the faints, 
and if they speak not according to the " word and the testi- 
mony" reject them, and let the spiiit of our Heavenly Father 
speaking in the Bible, particularly in the testament, teach 
you; and if any man teach any other doctrine than that 
taught in that holy volume of inspiration, " let him be ac- 
cursed.' 1 Therefore, be ye aware how ye hear, compare the 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. !37 

language of men with the word of the blessed God and de- 
cide accordingly, lay hold on eternal life through faith in 
Jesus Christ, '♦ for by grace are we saved through faith, and 
not of ourselves, it is the gift of God lest any man should 
boast," repent, therefore, repent speedily to God and believe 
in Jesus, and do his commandments, thus manifest your 
love Jo our God and Saviour, and lay up for yourselves treas- 
ures in heaven, " where moths cannot corrupt nor thieves 
break through and steal," but where, in the joy of our Dear 
Lord and Father, it shall endure and increase forevermore. 
For whosoever hath, to him sh .LI be given; and whosoever hath 

not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to 

have. 

fn temporals as well as spirituals we are commanded by 
our heavenly Father to be liberal to our fellow beings so- 
journing with us towards eternity ; the rich are particularly 
admonished to practice humility and charity, to distribute to 
the poor, to minister to the sick and afflicted such things as 
they may want, to relieve them in their distressed states, and 
add to their comfort and happiness in this world, so that 
their hearts may become lifted up, inspired with gratitude, 
love, reverence and praise lo their heavenly Father, the au- 
thor o! every good and perfect gift; who supplies the wants 
of all living creatures, and " not a sparrow falleth to the 
ground without his knowledge ;" the earth is his, and the 
fulness thereof, the gold and the silver and the cattle on a 
thousand hills. The Lord of Life and Glory, therefore, has 
a right to command and expect worship and obedience from 
all his subjects, whom he assures that they shall be repaid 
with an increase, "with good measure, pressed down, heaped 
up and running over ;" and that they that " cast their bn-ad 
upon the waters shall find it again after many days ;" these 
promises, fraught with such condescension and kindness 
from Jehovah, who is abundantly able to reward, in time 
and eterniu, every one would do well to heed, for when- 
ever h* pleases he can send leanness upon the earth, into 
the soul!? of the children of men, and whenever he pleas- 



138 ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

es ran cause the earth to abound, and also the souls of the 
children of men, spiritually, from Mount Sion, with love, 
piaise, and joy in the Holy Ghost; with wisdom, righteous- 
ness, sanctification and redemption; yea verily, with lull sal- 
vation, if they apply properly for the blessing, by repentance 
to our blessed God and by believing in Jesus Christ, mani- 
festing love unfained, by keeping his words and command- 
ments, and walking unblamably with him in holiness; an 
increase of grace shall be given to all such, for the mouth of 
the Lord hath spoken it, and by enduring to the end eternal 
life and felicity, in Jehovah's kingdom of glory. 

The Almighty Father blesses all his children more or less 
with earthly substance, with treasure to be sure, that is per- 
ishable, and doomed to decay as the grass of the field, but 
th^n for a season, for timely use, it is very desirable for the 
preservation of the life that now is, for the comfort and hap- 
piness of the human family; therefore, those that have much 
are commanded to be libe;al to those that have none, for the 
Good Lord delights in the cheerful giver ; as for instance, 
the Widow's mite, who with a cheerful heart threw into the 
treasury all her living, and thus manifested her love to God 
and her neighbors, and laid up treasure in heaven. " He 
that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that 
loveth abundance; the earth is for all; the king himself 'is served 
by the field." It i?, therefore, wisdom not to over value the 
things of time, the riches of this world, for they are not last- 
ing treasures like unto those from above ; the salvation of the 
soul through the exercise of faith in Jesus Christ our L,ord, for 
by our faith we overcome the world, its riches, pleasures, 
pomp and vanity, and quench every fiery dart of Satan. Let 
us always covet the best gifts, read and hear the word under- 
standingly, so that we may abound and have increase of 
knowledge, wisdom and understanding ; faith, hope, peace? 
love and joy in the Holy Ghost ; thus employ our talents to 
the very best advantage ; " for whosoever hath to him shall 
be given" — according to our text, shall we have greater and 
continual blessings flowing to us from our Heavenly Father, 



ON SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 139 

the Most High God, while those who bury their talents, or 
make use of them hypocritical y, despising the true giiis of 
God, although they may seem to have, yet are they but as 
"sounding brass and a tinkling cymba," " and whosoever 
hath not, fiom him shall be taken even that which he seemeth 
to have." Hear! Hear!! O ye dying mortals, hear the words 
of the Lord, " 1 am the resurrection, and the life: he that 
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : and 
whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die." 
"Turn ye, therefore,Turn ye, for why will ye die," u He that 
believeth not shall be damned ;" Surely no one, according to 
reason, ought to desire damnation in preference to the bles- 
sings of salvation ; therefore absiain from all the works of 
the former and flee from the wrath to come, "for it shall be a 
vexation only to understanding the report," when Jehovah 
arises to shake terribly the earth : Flee, therefore, flee from 
the wrath Hear at hand; be reconciled to the Lord God, 
make, speedily make your peace with the Almighty, so that 
shortly, when he comes to make up his jewels, ye may, with 
all the redeemed of the Land, have an entrance administer- 
ed abundantly, into his everlasting kingdom of Glory, through 
Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour, there with Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Holy Angels, and redeem- 
ed Haints and Martyrs, unite in songs of praise to our Glori- 
ous Eternal Father, to whom be ah worship, thanks and ad" 
oration, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen* 
Amen. 



DISCOURSE XII. 

ON OBEDIENCE. 

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they es- 
caped not who refused him that spake on earth ; much wore 
shall not we escape, if we turn away f om him that speuketh 
from heaven. 

Who^e voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised 
spying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also 
heaven. [Hebrews, 12th, chap. 'Ibth Sf %6th ver. 

Our blessed Father mercifully befriended our first parents 
immediately after their sinful transgression, although he drove 
them out of Paradise, and deemed it necessary to lay a curse 
upon them and their posterity to the end of time; yet never- 
theless his Almighty love constrained him graciously to con- 
descend to acts of kindness and mercy for their comfort and 
happiness here below, and giving them laws which were 
"good, and just and holy;" so that by the observing of them, 
they might again return to our blessed God, and know him 
as a reconciled Father, be fully reinstated to his H0I3 Im- 
age, to iove and enjoy him in the beauties of holiness and 
worship him in spirit and in truth, by reverence and obedience 
draw down the blessings of the Most Higli upon themselves 
and their offspring, whom they were commanded by the 
Lord to instruct in the path of wisdom and understanding; 
when they sat in their houses, when they walked by the way, 
when they laid themselves down, and when they arose up; 
their mouths were to talk of the love of their Heavenly 
Father, make known to their children his mandates and 
train them up to repeat the word of the Lord, fear, honor, 
love, and reverence the Deity, so that prosperity might at- 
tend them, and they might have peace in their borders, and 



ON OBEDIENCE. 141 

their gates might be praise, and at the destruction of the 
wicked they might take refuge in the Rock of their salva- 
tion. Thus Abraham instructed his son Isaac, and Isaac 
taught Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs, and they 
their offspring, and every good and wise man his children, 
so that the rod of the wicked may not come nigh them, when 
the wrath of the Lord God of Hosts is kindled to destroy 
the seed of the serpent. 

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. Pharoah the 
proud, the haughty and uplifted monarch of Egypt, whose 
grievous oppressions of the children of Israel, the dear peo- 
ple of the Lord of Hosts, his perseverance therein, and lay- 
ing even heavier burdens upon their shoulders, too heavy to 
be borne, after Moses the man of God reproved him for his 
rebellion against his maker and preserver, he disregarded the 
words of Moses, and went on in his hardened and stirTiieck- 
ed course, sinning and drinking down iniquity as an ox 
drinks down water, and thus became more and more obnox- 
ious in the eyes of Jehovah, who deemed it therefore neces- 
sary from time to time to admonish him by sending Moses 
and Aaron to desire him to let the children of Israel depart 
out of his country, to serve the Lord their God, to sacrifice 
unto Him and worship and praise Him as they were com- 
manded; but none of the words of Moses and Aaron were 
heeded by the stubborn Pharoah, consequently the judg- 
ments of the Almighty descended upon him and his people, 
and he was dreadfully tormented, and his people were pres- 
sed sore by different plagues, until at length he consented to 
their departure, but soon followed them with his hosts, when 
all were overthrown and perished in the Red Sea; their poor 
souls thus descended and found an asylum in hell; and so it 
was with the Sodomites who disregarded all the words of 
holy Lot, and fire and brimstone was sent down by the 
Lord God out of heaven and devoured them, and thus they 
went to their own home; and so also many proud, cruel, 
wicked and filthy Sovereigns, nations, and people since,among 



142 ON OBEDIENCE. 

whom was the worse than beastly Nero. O Lord God Al- 
mighty, deliver us speedily from such abominable creatures. 
And also the Romans, akin in their infernal work to the 
Sodomites, and the devils in hell, who were therelore their 
brethren, and they shall likewise have one home, the lake of 
fire and brimstone forever and ever, with all others that lead 
similar abominable lives, and disregard the warning voice, 
flee!! flee!!! flee!!!! from the wrath to come. 

For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, 
much irore shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that 
speaketh from heaven. Jehovah, when he speaks let all the 
insignificant nations of the earth stand in awe, and if it is 
not in love, but rather in wrath on account of the departure 
of the people from him, the only true, living, and everlastmg 
God, let them bow, let them fall down before their Maker. 

" Before Jehovah's awful throne, 

Ye nations bow with sacred awe ; 
Know that the Lord is God alone, 

He can create and He destroy." 

Yea, verily, when the word of the King Eternal, Immor- 
tal and Invisible is against them, then let them fall down and 
howl on account of their abominations, let them lay their 
mouths in the dust, rend their hearts and clothe themselves in 
sacloth and ashes, and repent them of all their filthy abom- 
inations and crime; let them weep, be afflicted, and distress- 
ed for their sins of enormous magnitude; Lr their abomina- 
ble, hell-deserving iniquity; let them speedily follow the ex- 
ample of Ninevah, and roll themselves in the dust and be 
sorrowful, weep, and lament for their mis-doings, for their 
mad rebellion against the Most High. " Enter into the 
rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for 
the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be 
humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, 
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." The times 
at present indicate that the period is near at hand, w T hen Je- 
hovah will arise in his strength to plead the cause of his cho- 



ON OBEDIENCE. 143 

sen— of his peculiar people, royal priesthood, and Holy Na 
tion, which includes all those who love God, have a living 
iailh in Jems, keep his words and commandments, work 
righteousness, are the temples of the Holy Ghost, worship 
our blessed Father in spint and in the beauties of holiness; 
have their delight in "whatsoever things are true, whatsoev- 
er things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ac- 
cording to Godliness, and which contribute to the virtue and 
refinement of the human family, to the exaltation, through 
Jesus Christ, of the souls of the children of men; for their 
comfort and happiness here in time, and felicity and bliss in 
heaven for ever and ever. 

Much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him 
that spraketh from, heaven. The Almighty is ever jealous of 
his glory, and will never give it to another, He alone is the 
Lord God, and besides him there is none else; therefore when 
he thunders with his voice, let all the people quake, let them 
tremble and fear to do evil; let them stand aloof and sin not, 
let their idle talk be turned into seriousness; let their merri- 
ment and mad rejoicing be turned into sorrow and mourn- 
ing; for when the whole earth commit all manner of ini- 
quity, abomination, and crime, and glory in their shame, 
then the Lord God will make it barren, "For thus saith the 
Lord God; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee 
desolate." 

Be ye not deceived, for our blessed God is not mocked in 
these times of degenerateness, of trampling under foot the 
word of the Lord, and of leagueing with the devil against 
the kingdom of heaven, against the Most High God, for 
verily, in due time the Lord God will "ease himself of his 
adversaries, and avenge himself of his enemies." It is self- 
evident that Jehovah has a controversy with all the nations 
of the earth, that his wrath is kindled and ready to consume 
to the uttermost, to tread them down as the mire of the 
streets; "for it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off nations 



144 ON OBEDIENCE. 

not a few;" " How can ye escape if ye neglect so great 
salvation." "If the righteous scarcely are saved, where will 
the ungodly and the sinners appear?" but in the flames of 
hell, in the lake of fire and brimstone prepared for all 
devils from the founation of the world. 

Muck more shall not we escape if we turn away from him 
that speaketh from heave*. "Wo to the rebellious children, 
saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that 
cover wilh a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may 
add sin to sin. Now go, write it before them in a table, and 
note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ev- 
er and ever, that this is a rebellious people; lying children, 
that will not hear the law of the Lord; which say to their 
seers, See not; and to the prophets; Prophecy not unto us 
right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits; 
get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the 
Holy One of Lrael to cease from before us." [Isaiah, 30th 
chap.] O the dreadful darkness of soul when there is a 
general aversion to the blessed God, to his words, to his 
great salvation; when "darkness covers the earth, and gross 
darkness the people," as it seems to be the case at present 
all the earth abroad; awful and disgraceful to humanity as 
such rebellions to the Almighty are, the fact of a general 
degraded ness and depravity pervading at times all classes, 
high and low, rich and poor, free and bond, is well establish- 
ed, and however painful the thought may be to the truly re- 
fined, good, and virtuous, it is nevertheless true, for at the 
time of the flood there were but eight persons after our be- 
loved Heavenly Father's heart, righteous Noah and family, 
and the waters deluged the whole earth and destroyed all 
the wicked, together with all living things, save those that 
were in the ark with the venerable Patriarch; and so with 
Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding plains, upon 
which the Lord God shook down fire and brimstone, delu- 
ged the country over, and destroyed the worse than beastly 
people from out of his sight, from off the face of the earth, 



ON OBEDIENCE. 145 

except holy Lot and family, whom God found just and holy, 
averse to the abominable lewdness of their filthy neighbors. 
Since then the nations of Canaan, the tribe of Benjamin, 
besides many other nations, kindreds, and people, for their 
departure from HIM who spcaketh from Heaven, JEHO- 
VAH, for having put away the fear of him from before their 
eyes, and set up the stumbling block of iniquity in their 
hearts, so that their foolish hearts became darkened, their 
souls benighted, and their spirits degraded to a level, if not 
beneath the four-footed animals, so that they could delight 
themselves in the works of darkness and damnation, revel 
with devils in all manner of abominations, working with 
familiar spirits, the works pertaining to death, "the death 
that never, never dies." And where are they now? but m 
yonder gulph of despair, where foul demons have their habi- 
tation; where the worm dieth not and where the fire is never 
quenched. 

Whose voice then shook the earth, Jehovah the Eternal 
God, when he thunders with his Almighty voice, causes the 
earth to tremble and shake to the- centre, and the people, 
poor, puny creatures, to be dreadfully dismayed and fright- 
ened, so that they would flee and hide themselves in dens 
and the caverns of rock, from his presence, from the sound of 
his voice; for who can stand before the Omnipotent God of 
Hosts, when his wrath is fully kindled and he arises to plead 
his own cause, "to shake terribly the earth." At the giving 
of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, Jeho- 
vah descended in awful majesty, amid thunders and light- 
nings, and the mighty soundings of a trumpet; so that the 
Mount quaked; the people trembled greatly, even Moses— 
the man of God himself said, "I exceedingly fear and 
quake." Then and thus the Lord God spake from heaven 
to the children of Israel, his chosen people, who were dear 
to him as the apple to the eye, and to whom he manifested 
his love in innumerable instances, and to a degree above all 
other nations of the earth; his presence encamped about 

12 



146 ON OBEDIENCE. 

them as the God of Battles, he fought for them, and slew 
their enemies, the first-born of Egypt, and then the remain- 
ing hosts with Pharoah as in his glory, at their head, whom 
he overthrew in the red sea, so that on the side of the Egyp- 
tians none was left to teli it: no wonder therefore after 
having seen this dreadful destruction of the Egyptians, that 
the children of Israel, and even Moses himself, feared great- 
ly, for they had previously rebelled and murmured about 
the water, and also hankered after the flesh pots of EgypU 
even wished that they had died there when they had fulness 
of bread; the Almighty God, in love for their temporal and 
eternal welfare — but in severe majesty, descended from 
heaven to commune with them, to furnish them with right, 
just, and good laws, to contribute to their comfort and hap- 
piness, exaltation and holiness, to their entire sanctificatiom 
so that they might be always reconciled to their Father, 
walk in the light of his countenance, and by loving him with 
all the heart, partake of the joys of the Angels of Heaven; 
for this purpose therefore, the Ten Commandments were 
written by the finger of the blessed God himself during this 
awful solemnity, which continued for forty days and nights, 
while a vast cloud surrounded the mountain. Moses was 
with Jehovah within, by whom he was miraculously sus- 
tained the whole period without food, and received the com- 
mandments from the Almighty, for the refinement of the 
people withal, and which are still valid and not to be viola- 
ted with impunity, although we are under the new cove- 
nant of grace, through Jesus Christ, our dear Saviour and 
Mediator, at whose atonement on Mount Calvary, Jehovah 
shook the earth again; brought darkness upon it; rent the 
rocks, and the temple veil from top to bottom, opened the 
graves and caused the dead bodies of Saints to appear to 
many of the living. God thus testified that Jesus was the 
true Messiah, the Saviour of sinners, and also that there is 
a resurrection of the dead, to take place according to our 
blessed Saviour's words, " 1 am the resurrection and th 



ON OBEDIENCE. 147 

life, be that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall 
he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall nev- 
er die;" shall, as St. Paul has it "fall sweetly asleep in Je- 
sus," and have part in the first resurrection. "Blessed and 
holy is he that hath part in the first resuirection; on such the 
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God 
and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." 

The promise of a part in the first resurrection of life and 
happiness, is .to all true christians, the chosen of the Lord, 
who love and obey him, serve him in righteousness and holi- 
ness, walk unblamably with God, our Heavenly Father, as 
Enoch also did with the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles 
and Saints and Martys of Jesus, who for the joy that was 
set before them, endured the cross, despised the shame, and 
are now seated in high heaven's eternal glory, in the efful- 
gence of the Deity, singing with the holy hosts of Cheru- 
bims and Seraphims, Angels and Arch- Angels, the high 
praises of our blessed God and Saviour; Hallelujah! Halle- 
lujah!! the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, the King of 
Saints. Therefore my brethren in Christ, as they only who 
endure unto the end shall be saved, let me, in love to your 
souls, admonish you to watch against the subtlety of Satan, 
to watch and to pray, to pray in spirit and in truth, as only 
such are heard by the hearer and answerer of prayer, our 
heavenly Father, so that like unto holy David's, our love 
may increase and be perfect. " I love the Lord because he 
hath heard my voice and my supplications; because he hath 
inclined his ear unto me, therefore will 1 call upon him as 
long as I live." JVlay our resolutions be similar, so that we 
may be mindful of the things pertaining to our peace, and 
"press continually toward the mark of the prize of our high 
calling in Christ Jesus," so that "no man take our crown ;' 
and our souls be continually as watered gardens, the name 
of the Lord our God glorified, and through our blessed Sa- 
viour, Christ, we may be able to stand when " he shakes ter- 
ribly the earth," and as the blessed of his Father, have an 



148 ON OBEDIENCE. 

entrance administered unto us, abundantly into his everlas- 
ting kingdom of glory, to sing with the celestial throng the 
high praises of our Holy Father forever and ever. 

But now he hath pi omised, saijing, Yet once more I shake not 

the earth only, but also heaven. 

The promises of Jehovah are all Yea and Amen, that is 
they shall be positively fulfilled; "I have spoken and shall I 
not do it? and he that hath my word, let him speak my word 
faithfully : what is the chaff to the wheal? saith the I .ord. — 
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a 
hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" O that it would 
break the stony hearts of this people, and influence the in- 
habitants of this tottering world to repent, and look at the 
things coming upon the earth; "they can discern the face of 
the sky, but why can they not discern the .signs of the times?" 
O that they would exeicise their superior faculties to scruti- 
nize the appearances of the times and regulate their lives 
accordingly. " Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon 
thee, O inhabitant of the earth, And it shall comn to pass, 
that he who fleet h from the noise of the fear shall fall into 
the pit; and he that corneth up out of the midst of the pit, 
shall be taken in the snare; for the windows from on high are 
open, and the foundations of the earth do shake." O earth! 
earth!! earth!!! hear the words of the Lord, O you people 
flee, flee from the wrath to come; be reconciled to the Most 
High God, for he is coming, he is coming to judge the rartb, 
to judge the earth in righteousness and the people in equity. 
Prepare you all, prepare to meet your God, through Jesus 
Christ he may yet be found by you in the eleventh hour; he 
may yet be willing to receive you as prodigals; after having 
been feeding on the husks and wallowing as swine in the mire 
of sin and iniquity, the blessed God may be yet willing to be 
your Father, to adopt you into his family of Kings and 
Priests, and feed you with the bread of life; for the biood of 
Jesus Christ cleanses from all sins, and through faith in him 



ON OBEDIENCE. 149 

and love to God the true christians overcome the world, the 
flesh and the devil, and become the temples of the Holy 
Ghost, and consequently enabled to live sober, righteous, 
and holy 'lives, to the honor and glory of our Eternal Father, 
and our immortal souPs perfection in holiness, and final re- 
ception into the mansions of the blessed, to enjoy the bliss of 
heaven forevermore. 
Yet once more 1 shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 

The perhd is near at hand when Jehovah will destroy the 
whole Universe, which h^ created in the short space of six 
days, he can therefore destroy it in much less time; in the 
twinkling of an eye our blessed God will consume the earth 
with fire, with all its filthy inhabitants. 

"And 1 beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo! 
there was a great earthquake, and the Sun became black as 
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the 
stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth 
her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. — < 
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rilled togeth- 
er; and every mountain and island were moved out of their 
places." Then shall there be distress, lamentation and woe 
to the extent that never has been known before; then the 
Kings, Chief-Captains, and the mighty men, and every bond- 
man and every free-man shall be dismayed and terrified, and 
fly to hide themselves in dens and in the rocks of the moun- 
tains. "And say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us 
and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, 
and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his 
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the 
Sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and 
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heav- 
ens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the 
Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the 
ear h mourn, and they shall see the on of man coming m 
the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he 



150 ON OBEDIENCE. 

shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and 
they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from 
one end of heaven to the other.'" And then also shall the 
King say to us, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
prepared kingdom and be crowned with glory forever; but to 
the wicked and all devils, he shall say, Depart from me for 
1 never knew you, ye workers of iniquity; and will cast them 
into the lake of fire and brimstone, prepared for the devil 
and his angels from the foundation of the world, where there 
is weeping and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. Then 
the glorious God will immediately create a New Heaven and 
a New Eartn, which shall abide fore vermore, where all right- 
eousness, holiness and glory shall abound, wherein the glo- 
rious Cherubims and Seraphims, Angels and Arch-angels, 
with all the redeemed of the Lamb, shall minister unto Je- 
hovah, and we shall worship in the Beauties of Holiness, 
our glorious, holy Father, and adoringly sing his praise for- 
ever and ever. Amen and Amen. 

Note. — The three preceeding Discourses are not printed in the 
table of contents, having been written since. The reader will oc- 
casionally discover typographical errors throughout the work, u 



DISCOURSE XIII, 

ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

On the first resurrection and thousand years reign of Christ 
with his Saints on earth. [Rev. 19th 8f ZOth Chaps. 

John, the amiable and the beloved of the Lord ; the 
holy, and the Divine; the Angelic Evangelist ; O how ma- 
ture in holy tempers was this devoted disciple ; how perfect 
did the love of God shine in his heart and soul, and was by 
him reflected to the honor and glory of his Divine Master, as 
manifested in his gospel and his epistles : and this last reve- 
lation and conclusion of the Divine dispensation to mankind, 
of Him who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty. How 
highly was he also honored in this work of the Lord, who 
appeared with Mystic figures unto him, and spake as it were 
personally with him, explaining the meaning of the same — 
then again he spake to them out of heaven, inviting him to 
come up, and immediately he was wafted in the spirit into 
these resplendant regions of glory, and beheld the beauties 
of heaven and Him who sitteth on the Throne. Thus he 
was alternately in heaven and on the earth, to accomplish 
this wonderful and sublime work, which excites our admira- 
tion and influences our hopes and fears, according to our 
state and relation with the Deity, O the blessed views he 
had of the glorious New Jerusalem, and the shining hosts 
surrounding the Most High in glory, and their happiness and 
bliss ; with some of whom he had frequent intercourse and 
conversation to accomplish this work, and never was any one 
of earthly mould more worthy of the appellation of brother 
from these Angelic holy Beings ; with whom he is now, in 
this Paradise of God, in closer communion ; and shall be so 
forever and ever. And so shall likewise all who follow him 



152 ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

as he followed Christ ; walked with God as he did ; as we 
shall see as we proceed in this subject. 

John informs us of the great Jubilee there was in heaven* 
of the singing and rejoicing of Saints and Angels, saying 
" Alleluia ; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto 
the Lord our God :" For true and righteous are his judge- 
ments ; for he hath judged the great whore, which did cor- 
rupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the 
blood of his servants at his hand.'' "And again they said 
Alleluia. And her smoke rose up forever and ever." This 
was the overflow of joy of the souls which had been under 
the Altar — the martyrs of Jesus — and their brethren, the 
holy Angels, in anticipation of the destruction of their ene- 
mies, who persecuted them and shed their innocent blood ; 
and also many of their brethren after them, up to this time 
of retribution, as stated in chapter six, were pleading their 
cause before the Judge, saying, " How long, O Lord, holy 
and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them 
that dwell on the earth?" "And white robes were given 
unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they 
should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants 
also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, 
should be fulfilled.'" This period had now arrived, and a 
voice u as heard coming out of the throne saying, " Praise 
our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small 
and great," and the voice of multitudes, and the voice of 
many waters, and the voice of mighty thunderings were heard 
by our blessed brother. John, saying, "Alleluia; for the Lord 
God Omnipotent reigneth." As the Holy Lord enjoined on 
his followers and dear people, his Saints, not to return evil 
for evil, but contrary wise, blessings, and has also said that 
vengeance belonged to Hirn and that he would repay — we 
are constrained in this, ako, to obey; and indeed if we even 
thought otherwise, and our zeal would hurry us — with Peter 
— to smite our enimies and cut off some ears, we should 
make but little progress — with an arm of flesh— as there are 



ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 153 

always millions against us, particularly now, many millions 
against one true follower of the Lamb, who will strive law- 
fully unto blood, persevere through fire and water, to get into 
the wealthy Holy Place, where we shall shortly, with the 
holy throng assembled — lift up our voice and say, u Let us 
be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage 
of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready,' 
and with them be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white ' 
which is the righteousness of saints." Thus shall we be 
blessed with all that are called unto the marriage supper 
of the Lamb. 

"And I saw heaven open, and beheld a white horse ; and 
he that sat upon him called Faithful and True, and in right- 
eousness he doth judge and make war." He comes forth 
in dreadful array; in the majesty of the Almighty; with 
eyes as flames of fire, and many crowns on his head ; 
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood ; and his namo is 
called " the Word of God;" followed by the whole hosts 
of heaven on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and 
clean. And he will smite all nations with the word of his 
mouth, and rule them with a rod of iron ; and he treads the 
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 
" KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 

Let the earth stand amazed and in awe, and ponder the 
things which must shortly come upon her; when the wicked 
shall be overthrown with an everlasting destruction and ail 
the fowls be filled with their-flesh. " 1 saw an Angel stand- 
ing in the sun ; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all 
the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather 
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; "That 
ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and 
the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them 
that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, 
both small and great." 

There will be, therefore, such a slaughter on ] the ea th 



154 ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

that was never approached before; as she drank the blood 
of the saints of the Most High, so shall she drink in that of 
their persecutors and murderers, upon whom will, most like- 
ly, be found all the blood from righteous Abel to Za< hariah, 
and from him to the latest saint ; even to this destruction. 
This cleansing of the earth will be the evening proceeding 
the dawn of the glorious Sabbath which the saints shall en- 
joy with their Lord on the earth ; when the kid, the bear, 
and ox shall feed together, and the lion lie down with the 
lamb, and a little child shall lead them ; when there will be 
no more war or fightings on the earth during this blessed 
time. But the Prince of Peace will be Sovereign Ruler, 
and all will acknowledge his sway ; love, reverence, and 
honor and adore him. 

By all appearances the time is not far hence, when these 
things will be accomplished. Some persons have placed it 
even in this year, others the next; and again others the fol- 
lowing, and several as far out as eighteen hundred and fifty, 
when the millenial year is to commence, and all profess to 
have examined the prophesies and calculated accordingly, 
and concluded as stated ; others again say, " as soon as you 
please you may have it" — addressing, 1 presume, all who are 
desirous that this glorious era should commence — that is, 
they say "convert all the heathens and you have it." Affec- 
ting ignorance and blindness to the dreadful course of wick- 
edness, and all things considered, worse than heathen iniqui- 
ty, in which nearly all revel that have the name of christians. 
As it was in the beginning of Wesley's career, so it is 
now, or if anything worse ; who in writing that very likely 

Mr. (a person who said he believed he had never seen 

one,) would never see a true christian — intimating that they 
were very scarce and far between — to use a familiar phrase; 
and so it is at present, the plural will scarcely apply to the 
true church of Christ on earth. However, I have or will 
affect more charity — and indulge the hope that there are sev- 
en thousand belonging to it, as at the time of Elijah. Then 



ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 155 

according to the reasoning of this last class — these uncon- 
verted christians must likewise become converted, which 
will be an herculian ta^k, before we have the glorious dawn 
of the millenial — lor it would be otherwise impossible that 
the lion could Jie down with the lamb, and persecution cease, 
and love and peace pervade all — unite them in holiness — 
from sea to sea and from the rivers unto the ends of the earth. 
.No! this is not the way it is to be accomplished, lor as long 
as Satan remains loose he will have his followers, and there 
will be division, contention, strife and persecution. But how, 
is he not to be chained ? He is, as 1 shall show you pres- 
ently. 

This missionary work and preaching the word of life to the 
heathen, is all, according to prophecy, to the design of Jeho- 
vah, and praiseworthy to all who contribute to enlighten the 
heathen, and effect their salvation; and a great reward to all 
those who walked with God blameless, and thus hon- 
ored him, and glorified his name, with their substance and 
talents and souls, which are all his ; and those who had 
some worldly or other object in view, shall also be recom- 
pensed accordingly. Doubtless many souls have been con- 
verted, and have already entered into the joy of our Lord 
to rejoice with the redeemed forever, and have thus escaped 
the terrible times coming on, when all the seed of the ser- 
pent shall be entirely destroyed over the whole earth, by Him 
on the White Horse, followed by a flaming host. Whether 
this is only figurative, and the Lord will destroy the wicked 
by sword, pestilence and famine, or whether it will be effect- 
ed something like the Angel passing at midnight over the 
land of Egypt, and destroying as many as the Lord com- 
missioned or empowered him, "even all the first born of man 
and beast, belonging to the wicked Egyptians, 1 say whether 
this way or that — he can do it many ways— it matters not to 
the culprits which are to be destroyed for their crime of 
serving Satan rather than God, and the heathens will also be 
blameable, because they had the words of life preached 



156 ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

unto them, which will testify against them;. "the harvest will 
be over, the summer ended, and they likewise will not 
have been saved." But the Lord las redeemed his promise 
that the word of life should be preached to all nations, "for 
a testimony against them," that is, against all that will not 
hear to the saving of their souls, by embracing the offers of 
salvation thus made known unto them, but adhere to their 
idolatry, iniquity and abomination, they shall then likewise 
perish in their sins without further remedy. 

As at the time of Noah and at the time of Sodom and 
Gomorrah, so shall it be at our blessed Lord's second advent. 
Is there not now stampt on the face of the times forebodings 
of a similar era of wickedness and abomination, and a i 
litter contempt of the blessed God? Has not the love of 
many waxed cold, and has there not been a great falling off? 
Certainly, every body knows it, and few are afflicted on ac- 
count thereof, and therefore these are the very symptoms of 
the approaching crisis, when Beelzebub with his followers 
shall have their last struggle on the earth — until after the 
thousand years — and they will not be able to fight with 
success the royal cavalry from the celestial regions, under 
the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. 
Let us consider the issues of the battle a little further. St. 
John says, "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth 
arid the.r armies, gathered together to make war against him 
that sat on the horse, and against his army. "And the beast 
was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought 
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had 
received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped 
his image. They both were cast alive into a lake of fire 
burning with brimstone; and the remnant were slain with 
the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword pro- 
cpeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with 
their flesh." 

Such a general devastation and utter destruction of all 
the wicked upon the earth has never been known before, 



ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 1 57 

save at the time of Noah; but that is not to be compared to 
the terribleness o( the result of this epoch. Therefore let me 
forwarn you, each and all, to flee from the wrath to come; 
flee to the outstretched arms of mercy; make your peace 
with God; through a crucified Saviour be reconciled to him; 
be restored to his favor and holy image, that ye may be found 
in holiness, and be hid under his wings, and thus escape the 
doom of the wicked; for surely the rod of the wicked shall 
not come unto the righteous as long as they walk faithful in 
holiness with God. No! verily, now is the time our heads 
will be elevated in getting this Sabbath and Jubilee for a 
thousand years; the mom of which is near at hand. 1 con- 
sider the six thousand years since the beginning of the world 
nearly expired, and that the seventh will be this Sabbath — 
according to the Jewish dispensation — during which Christ 
with ItH Saints will reign on the earth. Therefore, tor the 
eternal welfare of your souls and bodies, be persuaded to 
make your peace with this Prince of Peace, ere he comes, 
and you will find him in war as an army with banners; terri- 
ble as an earthquake with thunder and lightning; when none 
of you shall escape his vengeance; even your father the devil, 
the prince of darkness, shall be captured, with all his legions 
of dark spirits, and be cast into hell; as we read from the 
same authority. " And I saw an angel come down from 
heaven, having the Key of the bottomless pit and a neat 
chain in his hand; and he laid hold on the dragon, that old 
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a 
thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and 
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive 
the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfill- 
ed; and after that he must he loosed a little season." 

As 1 said before as long as Satan is loose there w 7 ill be 
iniquity on the earth, and his followers, they that love dark- 
ness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, and 
therefore rather serve him than God, will always outnumber 
the true christians — the sons of light and followers of the 



158 ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

Prince of Peace, until this general defeat takes place, and 
he, the source of all evil, will be shut up. What foolishness! 
yea v. hat madness, to serve such a master, openly or secretly 
— seeing he cannot save himself — much less those that trust 
in him, serve him, and delight in his filthiness. ]\o! they 
shall be destroyed first on this day, and then the air shall be 
purged oi all devils, which shall be cast into hell for a thou- 
sand years; where there is hunger and thirst, weeping, wail- 
ing, and gnashing of teeth forever, and where the worm dieth 
not and the fire is not quenched. 

Now the earth being cleansed from all filthiness and de- 
vils, the glorious Jubilee and Sabbath of a thousand years will 
commence, when the Saints and all the Redeemed of the 
Most Higli will reign Kings and Priests, with our blessed 
and Divine Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory. 
According to John, "And 1 saw thronei, and they that sat 
upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and i saw 
the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Je- 
sus, and for the word of God, and which had not worship- 
ped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his 
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived 
and reigned with Christ a thousand years." This will be a 
glorious era for the Church of Christ upon earth, when per- 
secution, contention and strife will rage no more against it; 
when waisand the evil consequences thereof shall not be 
known during this period, no sin nor iniquity possibly 
exist, consequently no need of the Judgments from the Al- 
mighty, but in their stead will flow from the Holy of Holies 
blessings in 

Rivers refreshing all 
On this terrestrial ball: 

Of peace, love, joy, glory, happiness and bliss. We shall 
then be filled with the holy qualities of Angels and sing in 
divine strains the praise of our King Emmanuel, who will 
be to us a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty. O what 
a glorious and happy company, all of one mind and soul in 



ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 159 

Christ in one allied; these verses of holy King David will 
apply so perfectly to this holy and peculiar nation, "Behold 
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." — 
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down 
upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the 
skirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the 
dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, for these 
the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. — 
And these also will be fulfilled, when every one will be em- 
ployed singing praise, "Praise ye the Lord, praise ye the 
name of the Lord, praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. — 
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the 
house of our God;. praise the Lord for it is good; sing praise 
unto him for it is pleasant. For God has chosen Jacob unto 
himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. For 1 know 
that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." 
Blessed is the Lord henceforth and forevermore. 1 shall 
conclude with the following lines, which beautifully describe 
the heavenly period : 

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, 

Omnipotent thou art; 
O may thy love in us increase, 

Reign thou in every heart: 
All knees bow, and tongues proclaim 
Thy high, exalted, holy Name. 

Lord in thy peace the earth abound, 

Exult in thee alone, 
Sing thy praise and echoing round, 

Does centre in thy throne; 
All kindreds, tongues, and people sing 
And worship thee Etejnal King. 

And all in mystic union join 

In thee O God, below, 
A perfect holiness combine, 

And glory in thy glow: 
All kindreds, tongues, and people sing 
And worship thee Eternal King. 



1G0 ON THE FIRST RESURRECTION. 

All now as Saints and Angels praise, 

In holy strains divine, 
And heaven and earth sing thy lays, 

Submissive at thy shrine; 
All kindreds, tongues, and people sing 
And worship thee Eternal King. 

Hallelujah". Hallelujah!!! The Lord God Omnipotent 
reigneth. The King of Saints. Amen and Amen. 



DISCOURSE XIV. 

THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

In my preceding discourses I have been showing the glo- 
rious dawn of the millenium and the resurrection of the 
Saints, the first resurrection — as it is termed — and the peace, 
joy, and happiness we shall be blessed with during our reign 
with Christ, our anointed Saviour, God and King. After 
this holy, heavenly Jubilee and Sabbath of a thousand years 
ig ended, the Almighty Father will invite and receive to his 
holy court all these terrestrial sons of light; and therefore, 
by consequence we shall all be wafted into the regions of 
Eternal Light, and administered unto the Most High in the 
Holy of Holies. 

After this being accomplished Satan shall be liberated, ac- 
cording to the words of inspiration, by the blessed St. John, 
" And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be 
loosed out of his prison." And quite likely with him those 
apostate spirits that fell with him from their first estate, and 
which were together with him cast into the earth, bound in 
chains in darkness unto the judgment of the great day; and 
which made such dreadful havoc among the children of men 
alienating them from their Maker and leading them into the 
way of all sin, and iniquity, and abomination, so that in all 
ages, with few exceptions, these was an apostate race, a 
degraded people, delighting in committing depredation and 
crime, and in their estrangement from the exalted Image in 
which man was created, to be a praise and a glory to his 
Maker. And instead of returning to him they severed the 
ties that bound them yet further, and under the influence of 
their satanic master, plunged at times into ocean depth of 
iniquity, as at the flood, and at the time of Sodom and Go- 
morrah. 

13 



162 THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

The devil has been the cause of all the evil from the be- 
ginning of the world; of the wars, cruel fightings, persecu- 
tions and bloodshed; of wrath, malice and hatred, of pride, 
envy and revenge, and all contention and strife; not only by 
exciting the passions of his followers to persecute and commit 
these crimes upon the Saints of the Most High, but among 
his own children, these crimes were always more or less de- 
veloped, and put into practice; nation against nation, and 
individual against individual; if not murder in every case, its 
concomitant qualities were exercised, in almost every in- 
stance, to traduce and defame one another. 

Thus wretchedness and misery were the general inmates 
of the abodes of men on the earth; peace had fled far from 
their dwellings — verily it is a precious ingredient, not conge- 
nial to the cause of depravity and ungodliness, and therefore 
not attributed by the Prince of Peace to wicked men, but 
the contrary is denounced, "there is no peace for the wicked, 
saith our God." Our God, with the inspired writer, is "He 
who inhabits Eternity, whose name is Holy, who dwelleth 
in the High and Holy Place, also in the hearts of those who 
are of broken hearts and contrite spirits, to bind up the bro- 
ken hearts and to revive the contrite spirits." Thus, herein 
is made manifest the source of the stream of peace, which 
in all ages pervaded the saints of the Most High, and uni- 
ted them in love and salvation, through Christ in Him in one; 
and thus they had peace, although in the world they had 
tribulation; as the same beloved disciple, for our consolation, 
informs us, in his gospel, in the words of our blessed Sa- 
viour, "Peace 1 leave with you, my peace I give unto you, 
not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart 
be troubled, neither let it be afraid." And also, " These 
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have 
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of 
good cheer, I have overcome the w 7 orld." 

In the Prince of Peace, therefore, all his followers had 
peace and salvation from the beginning of the world to the 



THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 163 

end of time; for he expressly says, "I am Alpha and Omega, 
the beginning and the ending, and the first and the last; 11 by 
consequence he is the Judge, and all will be judged and re- 
warded according to their works by him; therefore be ye all 
warned if ye value your souls and eternal welfare, to make 
your peace with him, otherwise you will shortly be ushered 
before him, and find in him, not the mild and easy-to-be-en- 
treated Saviour— as he might have been to you — while in 
time — but the inexorable judge, who will have you quickly 
banished out of his presence, and cast into outer darkness, 
where there shall be eternal torments, as I shall show 3 ou 
more fully as J proceed. Abraham had peace in this glori- 
ous Prince, he saw him afar off, and believed in him, which 
was counted unto him for righteousness; so had Moses, "who 
choose rather to suffer afifhction with the people of God, than 
to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the re- 
proach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, 
for he had respect unto the recompence of reward; 11 and so 
had David, who sang so sweetly; Isaiah, who prophesied so 
full and clear of his advent and mission, and final triumph 
over the powers of darkness, and accomplishment of salva- 
tion: these, together with all the Old and New Testament 
Saints, rejoiced in him, and through the riches of his salva- 
tion, ended their course with joy, and are now inheriting in 
common with the Holy Angels, the mansions on high; and 
likewise thousands since have been blessed through him, 
with the same richness of grace, love, joy, peace, in short, 
full salvation, and all the fruits of the spirit, and are now 
likewise partaking of the same blessings with the blessed on 
High; and we who remain by a retrograde faith, can behold, 
with this amiable disciple, "his glory, the glory as of the on- 
ly begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, 11 and 
follow him the whole round of his obedient pilgrimage — for 
we possess a chart where his way is laid down and described, 
and are privileged far above the ancients, and by consequence 
there will be less excuse for those that die in their sins; as 



164 THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

his words, which we have so abundantly, and which shall 
judge every one on the last day, have been unheeded, his 
blood trampled under foot, his love, his great love, wherewith 
he loved us so as to lay down his life on Calvary, been 
slighted, and despite done to his Holy Spirit; all that have 
thus lived and thus died, have nothing to expect from him in 
the eternal world but his fiery indignation, which shall con- 
sume his adversaries. "Ah, 1 will ease me of my adversa^ 
ries, and avenge me of mine enemies," saith the Lord, the 
Lord of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel Therefore I 
would persuade you again be reconciled unto Jehovahv in 
making of friends make him your friend above all others, 
he will be a friend in need, a friend in time, on the judgment 
morning, and through all eternity; and verily a friend in word 
and in deed, for his words and his deeds are all "Yea and 
Amen." 

Yes verily, we are favored far above the ancients in the 
clearness of our blessed Saviour's deeds, his sufferings, his 
death, resurrection, ascension,, and second coming to judge 
the world in righteousness. We have his own words* which 
speak life and everything desirable that could contribute to 
the happiness of true believers in time and in eternity, and 
also his words which speak death and excruciating torments 
to the unbelievers forever and ever. As the tree falls so it 
lies; as the sinner dies so he must appear before the judgment 
seat of Christ. 

"It is appointed unto all men once to die, and after that 
the judgment;" and as the words of Christ shall judge all, 
therefore we who judge ourselves by those words in time, 
that is, repent of all our sins and ungodly deeds, which we 
have ungodly committed, and love the Lord God with all 
our hearts and walk with him through faith in Christ, in per- 
fect holiness, thus die off from the old man and put on the 
new, which after God is created in righteousness and true 
holiness, become thus dead to the world, the lusts of the 
flesh, and the pride of life, and alive unto God; have our 



THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 165 

names written in the Lamb's book of life; a part in the first 
resurrection, on whom the second death hath no power, be- 
cause we keep his words and commandments to do them; 
thus we fulfill both laws, that of works, and that of faith 
and love unto our God and Saviour, and shall therefore reign 
with him as Kings and Priests, forever and ever. 

" But the wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the 
nations that forget God." For behold the Lord will come 
with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render 
his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire. 11 He 
is thus coming at the end of time, after Satan shall have 
gone forth "to deceive the nations in the four quarters of 
the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, 
the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." We may 
well suppose that the devii will be raving mad — after being 
liberated out of his dungeon — and will rush over the earth 
as a foaming torrent, with redoubled violence and hatred 
against God, and his peculiar people, which shall then be 
pilgrims on earth, and not content by persecuting the true 
church of Christ, going about as a roaring Lion seeking 
whom he may devour, he will even ascend with his slaves 
"on the breadth of the earth, and compass the camp of the 
Saints about, and beloved city; and fire shall come down 
from God out of heaven and devour them.'" And the devii 
that deceived them shall be cast into the lake of fire and 
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are, and 
shall be tormented day and night forever and ever." Thus 
we find to the end that the God of the wicked is not our 
God, JEHOVAH! as he shall be quickly overthrown and 
cast back into hell with all his followers, shortly after to be 
brought forth and judged by saints and angels, and Christ, 
who is God over all, blessed forevermore. 

Yes verily, the wheels of time are hastening on apace, are 
rolling rapidly towards the verge of eternity, when the great 
-"Arch-Angel shall stand with one foot on the sea ar,d the 
other on the land, lift up his hand towards heaven 3 and swear 



166 THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

by Him who liveth forever and ever, that time shall be no 
longer." Then the earth shall quake, be rent, and roll to and 
fro, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken; the sun shall 
become black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon as blood; 
the stars of heaven shall be precipitated upon the earth, "a& 
a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a 
mighty wind;" even the very heavens shall depart as a 
scroll when it is rolled together; the whole firmament shall 
be shaken to the centre; the mountains shall tremble, be 
rent and tumble to the earth, and the islands be moved out 
of their places. Then shall there be distress, lamentation? 
and woe, such as has never been heard upon the earth be- 
fore, "When the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and 
the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, 
and every bond-man, and every free-man, shall hide them- 
selves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and 
say to the mountains and rocks fall on us, and hide us 
from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from 
the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is 
come, and who shall be able to stand?" Thanks be to* 
God, we shall be able to stand who have previously made 
©ur peace with him; washed our robes and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb; and have "kept his command* 
ments, therefore, we shall have a right to the tree of Life 
and enter in through the gates into the city: 

" The city so holy and clean, 

No sorrow can breathe in the air? 
No gloom of afflction or sin, 

No shadow of evil is there ! 
The Saints in His favor receive 

Their great and eternal rewards 
In Jesus, in heaven they live, 

They reign in the smile of their Lord.' 7 

We therefore shall be able to endure and ever to rejoice,, 
because we have made God our refuge, through Christ the 
Judge, w ho is now our friend, and saves us from standing in 
the judgment with the wicked; yea he even first opens all 



THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 167 

the graves of his Saints, trains and transforms us into An- 
gels, and gathers us around his throne to pass testimony 
against his enemies, our persecutors, who would have none 
of our reproofs, nor the holiness of our Divine Master, and 
consequently are thus overtaken and overwhelmed in con- 
fusion and dismay, consternation and terror; running about 
to hide themselves from his glorious appearing; when the 
heavens shall disappear, and the elements melt with fervent 
heat, the earth, the earth also be burned with fire. And 
when the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the 
holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of 
His Glory. For the Lord Himself shall descend from 
Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel, and 
with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 
Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up 
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, 
who will say unto us, "Come ye blessed of my Father, in- 
herit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world. And so shall we be ever with the Lord because 
we have overcome, be seated within his throne, while all the 
wicked at the word of His power will be gathered before 
us; the graves open, the dead come forth to stand before 
Christ, the Judge, and the devil with all his legions from hell 
shall be assembled before the Jehovah-judge and his Saints 
and Angels, to hear their last doom pronounced upon them. 
O what an enormous multitude will then be assembled; all 
the hosts of heaven, Angels and Saints on etherial thrones 
suspended around the King of Glory, the Judge of the wick- 
ed, while the conflagration of the earth will be going on be- 
neath, and the devils and all their co-workers, from Cain to 
the very last of them in despair, trembling oa the brink ot 
fire and brimstone, the earth nearly dissolved; the judge will 
seal their doom in words of thunder, "Depart from me ye 
cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his 
Angels." And immediately they will all be cast together 
into the furnace of fire, where there shall be weeping and 
gnashing of teeth forever and ever. 



168 THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

Hear also what St John says, "And 1 saw a great white 
throne and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and 
the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for 
them. And 1 saw the dead small and great stand before 
God; and the books were opened, and another book was 
opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged 
out of those things which were written in the books accord- 
ing to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which 
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which 
were in them, and they were judged every man according 
to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake 
of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was 
not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake 
of fire." And thus these awful words of our Lord are made 
manifest upon them, "They that worship the beast and his 
image, and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their 
hands, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his in- 
dignation, and they shall be tormented with fire and brim- 
stone in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the pres- 
ence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torments ascend- 
ethup forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, 
who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever re- 
ceiveth the mark of his name." Yea verily, these things 
will all come to pass, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken 
it, and the time is near at hand when 

The blowing of the last trumpet, 
Come to judgment to be judged! 
Like thunder through the air abounds, 
Amid the commingling of sounds 
Of burning things and falling mounts. 

The judge comes long way through clusters 
Of worlds and planets whose lustres, 
Dim'd by his superior glory, 
And his celestial company, 
All resplendent in brilliancy. 



THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 160 

While the trump continues sounding, 
Are changing to immortality 
All in the twinkling of an eye, 
All the righteous that did not die, 
And those from graves does glorify. 

The Angels flying all about 

To receive us up in the cloud, 

* 'Welcome, welcome with our King go, 

To the land where milk and honey flow, 

And nothing but sweet pleasures know." 

O ye gates swing apart, the most 
The King of Glory comes with his host, 
Who is the King of Glory? Who? 
The God infinite that all foreknew, 
Jesus, who worlds to atoms threw. 

Let in, ye pearly gates! 'part swing, 
The lovely train with Glory's King; 
O who is Glory's King, O who? 
The Word by whom all things came new, 
Lord of Hosts and Holy One too. 

And swings the gates and passes through, 
The King of Glory with retinue; 
Who is the King of Glory ? Who ? 
The Almighty that all things can do, 
All praise and blessings him are due. 

Glory, honor, dominion and power, 
To God our Omnipotent Father, 
And our Prince of Peace Almighty; 
With the Holy Ghost, O Glory! 
Hallelujah!! to the One Three. 

Holy!! Holy!!! Holy!!!! Holy!!!!! 
Art Thou Glorious; 
Hosanna! Hosaima!! Hosan'a!!! 
Hallelujah!!! Hallelujah!!!! 
Hallelujah ! ! ! ! Hallelujah ! ! ! ! ! 
Amen! Amen!! Amen!!! Amen!!!! 

Ere the departure of the host, 
Surround'ng the Lord of Canaan's coast, 
On clouds all around suspended, 
More solemn and shrill blasts the trumpet, 
Arise! 'rise to be judged, judg'd. 



170 THE JUDGMENT MORNING. 

Satan, and from the depths of hell 

They come, with hideous looks and tremble. 

And from the graves, caverns, and rocks, 

And Oceans all, in woeful flocks, 

To receive reward for their mocks. 

The world, which was all their delight; 
Burning falls before Jesus' might; 
The King of Glory who was slain 
For the world's guilt, is here again, 
And will forever, ever reign. 

The book of life does not contain, 
Of the dejected crowd, a name; 
Christ with justice imperative, 
And solemn tone, His sentence give, 
Ye cannot and ye shall not live. 

Depart from me, I ne'er knew ye, 
With the devils forever be; 
To hell's blackness and darkness doom, 
Amid burning sulphur' cus fume, 
Solid night and eternal gloom. 

Be forever driven to and fro, 

With gnashing and weeping and woe, 

And excruciating torment, 

The frame unceasingly rend, 

And smoke perpetually ascend. 



DISCOURSE XT. 

THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. 
And [saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven 
and the first earth were passed away, and they were no 
more. [Rev. *2\st chap. \st verse. 

We frequently read in the Old Testament, in the language 
of Jehovah, that at some future day the heavens and the 
earth shall be destroyed with a complete, entire, and ever- 
lasting destruction, so that not a vestige of the old fabric 
should remain, wherein and whereupon Satan, the old beast, 
practiced his abominations; the glorious heavens where he 
commenced his career of rebellion against the blessed God, 
creator of the Universe, who called into being the glorious 
Cherubims and Seraphims, Angels and Archangels, all the 
holy hosts, to attend his Omnipotent, Divine Majesty, in the 
Courts of his glory, here in heaven, in the holy of holies, in 
the effulgence of the Most High, King of all worlds, this 
spirit of the morning began his conjuring among his fellow 
beings of light to undermine and overthrow if possible, the 
throne of the eternal; but in this he failed, his subtle in- 
ventions and plans w T ere frustrated; although legions of an- 
gels had been seduced by his artifice and were now under his 
coatrol. The eye of Omniscience however, saw through 
the huge edifice they were erecting, traced it to the centre, 
and discovered him who laid the foundation of this daring, 
this monstrous abomination; and the finger of the Almighty 
pointed him out in derision to his shining hosts, who kept 
their first estate, adhered to him, and willingly and obediently 
served their Master in love and holiness; remaining faithful 
and honorable ambassadors to the King of Glory, who also 
honored and exalted them in turn, while this foul spirit, this 



172 THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. 

devil, was looked upon with scorn and contempt, was a de- 
graded wretch, and an abhorrence to all the innocent in the 
Holy Place, and the Lord God bound him in chains of dark- 
ness, with all his followers, and cast them out of his presence. 

The devil with all the apostate spirits being cast out of 
heaven, were permitted to take refuge in the earth until the 
great and notable day of the Lord, then to be cast into 
the Lake of fire and brimstone, prepared for them from 
the foundation of the world. No sooner had the Almighty 
created man to inhabit the earth, whom he created in 
his own Image, innocent and holy as the angels in 
heaven, than this arch fiend went to work to deface 
this the fairest and most celestial of all the creatures 
upon earth, and succeeded but too well, as all know who are 
conversant with the revelations of God, who read and med- 
itate on the word of truth as recorded in the Bible; and all 
may also learn the awful consequences of the fall of our 
first parents, the curse entailed by Jehovah upon them and 
all their posterity to the end of time, and the dreadful de- 
pravity which immediately ensued under this Satanic prince 
of darkness; the crimes which were perpetrated under his 
instigation; even the very first offspring of Adam and Eve 
became a murderer under Beelzebub his father, who is dread- 
fully averse to every thing holy and divine, and thus at the 
very beginning gave vent to his malice against God and his 
saints, and through Cain he slew Abel. 

As the earth became more populous his bloody crimes 
became more frequent, and sin and iniquity and abomination 
to abound, so that man, whom the Lord God created for an 
honor and a praise, became an abhorrence in his sight, and 
it grieved the Lord that he had made him at all on the earth. 
So it was at the flood when the Lord destroyed them all save 
Noah and his family; if he did not destroy the earth upon 
which they revelled — but kept it for a future day — he des- 
troyed the whole world, that is, all the serpent's seed; so at 
the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with 



THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. 173 

all the plains; and since then the terrible depopulating of 
countries by the Almighty. Overthrow of nations and des- 
truction of people testify to the truth of his words: "The 
wicked shall be destroyed with an everlasting destruction, 
and all the nations that forget God shall be turned intelieR.'" 

The earth, as in my last discourse, the earth shall posi- 
tively be destroyed, for the mouth of Him who cannot lie, 
the Lord, has spoken it. The heavens shall depart, and the 
earth melt with fervent heat. Then the lofty looks of men 
shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed 
down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted;" and then also 
shall vengeance be taken upon the devil, the old serpent, and 
satan, and all his wicked and degraded followers, which 
shall all be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, to be 
tormented forever and ever. Consult Isaiah, 1 4th chapter, 
for the following: How art thou conquered and destroyed 
O Lucifer, how art thou cut down which didst weaken the 
nations! "for thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into 
heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I 
will sit also upon the mount in the congregation, in the sides 
of the north; 1 will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 
Twill be like the Most High;' 1 and now art thou brought down 
even into the pit, and Jehovah alone is elevated, worshipped, 
and adored, and his name glorified. 

The heavens being disposed of wherein Satan first trans- 
gressed, and the earth whereon he had his career of filthi. 
ness, and which was saturated with blood, and the beast 
was permitted to persecute the saints of the Most High, and 
slay them as sheep, and whereon the wicked revelled, fought 
and tore each other like wild beasts; robbed, oppressed, de- 
frauded and murdered one another, revelled in adulteries, 
fornications, and that which is almost a shame to mention — 
abuse one another's bodies between themselves — he-dog 
with he-dog, in acts that were unseemly and against nature. 
O the stink which used to ascend from their filthy abomina- 
tions to offend the nostrils of Jehovah and all holiness, 



174 THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. 

instead of holy praise, thanks and blessings. 1 marvel not 
therefore that it grieved my blessed, holy father, that he had 
made man upon the earth, since by their filthy father, the 
devil's inventions, they became debased below the most filthy 
of all his other animals, and consequently a disgrace to the 
upright stature in which they were created, and no wonder 
that God who is altogether holy, and can never bear iniquity, 
crushed the stinking wretches with their filthy father into 
fire and brimstone, as a more suitable place than this earth, 
to say nothing of heaven, where all glory abounds, and burnt 
the earth upon which they wallowed in fiithiness beneath 
the swine. 

Verily the Lord God has at length redeemed his pledge, 
"Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my words shall not 
pass away until they are all fulfilled.'" The wicked with 
their master, which had a desire to doubt that the Lord 
could really destroy this (to them) so fair a fabric, by saying 
"where is the promise of his coming, for the heavens were of 
old and the earth stood out of the water and in the water 1" 
but now they can no more sneer at the words of Christ, -for 
are they not now overthrown and confounded, are they not 
banished out of the glory of Christ? yea verily, Christ is now 
also ashamed to own them, as they while in time, were asha- 
med to follow him in the regeneration, believe in him, love 
him, and keep his commandments to do them. O ye infidels 
and criminal persons, where is now the earth whereon you 
revelled and which you took for your portion? it has under 
the curse of the Almighty, vanished as a vision, and your 
career upon it will be remembered by you in sorrow and 
despair, and cause unutterable pangs of anguish of soul, 
cries and torment, throughout a never, no never-ending eter- 
nity, and what will aid to increase your eternal hell of soul 
will be the recollection of the joys you have wilfully and 
madly forfeited; the joys and glory of the New Jerusalem; 
the joys and blessedness of the saints and holy angels in Je- 
hovah's glory, whom you will now behold above on a throne 



THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH, 175 

of dazzling splendour, surrounded by his Kings and Priests, 
the Holy Angels and Saints, all shining and reflecting like 
suns and stars the lustre and effulgence of the Deity; shed- 
ding great glory all around, and into the pit, upon the devil 
and you his poor, miserable and subdued legions, but for 
which you would be in outer, in utter darkness; your eyes 
of flesh will be dimmed by the resplendent, beatific vision, 
and increased horror will fill your poor souls, and this will 
be yet more and more heightened by the sweet, heavenly, 
Angelic music from millions and millions of glorified Beings 
celebrating the triumphs of our Glorious King; the vibrations 
and resoundings of innumerable harps, lyres, and golden 
instruments, set in motion by the most exquisite, superlative, 
seraphic touches, accompanied by tta melodious singing of 
the celestial Bride, rejoicing in her triumphant and glorious 
Bridegroom. 

Jehovah having completed his designs as respects the old 
world and its inhabitants, the devil and his followers are 
shut up and sealed in the lake of fire and brimstone forever. 
By the word of the Omnipotent a new heavens and a new 
earth will be immediately created for the Holy Angels and 
Saints, all the redeemed from the earth, wherein all right- 
eousness and holiness shall abound, and it shall differ 
in other respects from the old heavens and earth, inasmuch 
as there shall be neither sun, moon, nor stars, &c. for the 
effulgent Glory of the Deity shall illuminate the same, nei- 
ther shall there be darkness nor night, but one eternal noon. 
"Andl saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty 
and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no 
need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the 
glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light there- 
of. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in 
the light of it. And there shall be no more curse, but the 
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his ser- 
vants shall serve him, and they shall see his face, and his name 
shall be in their foreheads, and they shall reign foiever and 



176 THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. 

Eye hath not seen, neither hath ear heard the joys prepa- 
red for those that love God, for those who were the called 
and chosen according to his purpose, all the redeemed of 
the Lamb, who washed and made themselves clean through 
faith in his blood; we shall all be like unto the Holy Angels, 
and together contribute the constellation of the New Heav- 
ens and the New Earth. Yea verily, we shall all be burn- 
ing luminaries, suns, and stars, reflecting the splendor of Je- 
hovah; forever behold his glorious lace and dwell in his glori- 
ous presence, and minister unto him in the courts of his glory. 
There shall be joy and rejoicing forevermore, the most exqui- 
site, soul-exalting, and perfect music on innumerable harps, 
lyres, and other golden instruments, accompanied by num- 
berless millions of angelic voices, melodiously singing the 
high praises of our God and Saviour; the whole expanse 
shall resound with the adoration and praise, with the thanks 
and blessings of the holy throng, to Jehovah, our God and 
King, who alone shall be worshipped, and that by all in 
spirit and in truth and in the beauties of holiness. He alone 
shall reign supreme in the hearts of all the glorious inhabit- 
ants of this Canaan and Celestial Paradise ^of superlative 
holiness, happiness and bliss. Jehovah alone shall be sole 
Monarch, and all shall love, honor, and obey him; manifest 
their reverence and obedience in the fulfilling of his words 
and commands; lauding, applauding, magnifying, and attrib- 
uting all the glory to his name. A perfect bond of love, joy, 
and peace shall pervade all, unite and combine them through 
Christ and the Holy Spirit in God, our Holy Father, in one. 
The praise and worship of all these glorious hosts shall com- 
mingle in one harmonious whole, and everlastingly ascend 
in oderiferous incense before the glorious Throne of Jeho- 
vah: "And they shall sing the song of M oses the servant of 
God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvel- 
ous are thy works Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy 
ways, thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear thee, O 
Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy. And 



THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EAtfTH. | 177 

cry with a loud voice saying, Salvation to our God which sit- 
teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." And all the re- 
deemed shall be about the throne and serve God in his holy 
temple forevermore, in holiness and righteousness, worship- 
ping and singing, crying, Holy! Holy!! Holy!!! Lord God 
Almighty; Hosanna! Hosanna!! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! 
Hallelujah!!! The Lord God Omnipotent, the King of Glory 
reigneth; all blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiv- 
ing, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for- 
cer and ever. Amen. 

Angels who are thy peculiar care, 

Adore thee, and harps and lyres string, 
Fill harmoniously the air, 

Cause the etherial domes to ring, 
Melodiously sing, 
Jehovah, God and King. 

Commingle all Celestial Choirs, 

Emulate with divine powers. 
With Angelic and Seraphic Lyres, 

Continue 'neath Golden towers, 
Thro' etherial bowers, 

Heavenly fields and flowers. 

Re-echoed by circling Jasper, 

To our Alpha and Omega, 
To whom be glory, thanks, dominion, 

With Fath'r, Spirit, and JEHOVAH, 
Hosanna! Hosanna!! 
Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! ! 



THE END. 



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